Big Boy tinz!!! Obafemi Martins Shows Off His Blings

The footballer shared these photos showing off his gold plated sunglasses, gold bracelet, gold chain and a gold-plated Rolex watch on Instagram.

Chelsea Midfielder Michael Essien Joins AC Milan

Midfielder Michael Essien has completed his move to AC Milan from Chelsea, after signing a 17-month deal with them. The 31-year-old midfielder, who joined the Premier League side in 2005, will be officially unveiled at San Siro today.

Chelsea Midfielder Michael Essien Joins AC Milan

Midfielder Michael Essien has completed his move to AC Milan from Chelsea, after signing a 17-month deal with them. The 31-year-old midfielder, who joined the Premier League side in 2005, will be officially unveiled at San Siro today.

Barcelona Barcelona returned to the summit of La Liga with 3-0 Win over Malaga

 whao finally with the retunr of almighty Mighty Barcelona could pull over like a thieve been chased by a police heheheh lol, am loving it....

Barcelona returned to the summit of La Liga with an ultimately straightforward 3-0 win over Malaga at Camp Nou on Sunday night.
 The Catalan giants dropped to third in the table after Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid won earlier in the weekend, but reclaimed their place at the top of the table with a thoroughly convincing performance.
 After consecutive Liga draws against Atletico and Levante – the first time Barca went two league games without winning since May 2011 – Gerardo Martino's side dominated the first half and took the lead through Gerard Pique in the 40th minute, his second goal in as many matches.
 Barca would have led by more if it were not for the brilliance of Malaga goalkeeper Willy Caballero, but goals from Pedro and Alexis Sanchez in the first 20 minutes of the second half sealed the result.
 Lionel Messi did not score, as his league scoring drought extended to 120 days, but new president Josep Maria Bartomeu, watching from the stands, would not have minded as Barca dominated from start to finish.
 Barcelona were again without Andres Iniesta (left knee) and Neymar (ankle), but that did not stop the defending champions, who were denied by the woodwork in the sixth minute when Alexis' clipped effort hit the left post.

Duda forced Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes into a diving save with a curling free kick but the hosts were dominating, and only a sloppy first touch robbed Messi of a goal, as he lobbed wide, before Caballero clawed away a Dani Alves shot from a tight angle.
 Caballero then kept out Jordi Alba and Flavio Pereira cleared Pedro's goalbound header, and while Valdes had to react quickly to keep out Marcos Angeleri's header, the chances kept coming for Martino's men.
 Alba flicked onto the roof of the net before Pique finally broke the deadlock, as Xavi's corner was flicked on by Alexis, allowing the defender to chest down and power his shot past Caballero.
 The goalkeeper denied Cesc Fabregas on the stroke of half-time and Alba made an important clearance after the break, restricting Bartlomiej Pawlowski a free shot on goal following Vitorino Antunes' cross.
 Alexis and Fabregas were frustrated by Caballero again before Pique nodded a Xavi corner onto the post. But Pedro killed the game off in the 55th minute when he showed great skill before curling past Caballero with his right foot.
 Duda's long-distance effort forced Valdes to scramble back, but a terrific Messi run led to Barca's third, as Pedro unselfishly squared for Alexis to tap in at the far post just after the hour mark.
 Messi had a free kick narrowly go over, as his search for a league goal continued, while Caballero saved superbly to keep out Fabregas in the dying stages, but three goals were more than enough for Barcelona.

Ghana Vs Nigeria: CHAN Semi-final On Wednesday At 7.30 Pm

A hard fought 1-0 victory for Ghana in sunday's second quarter final set up a mouthwatering semi final clash with west african rivals Nigeria


Supersport


A penalty goal by Kwabina Adusei has put Ghana into a highly-anticipated African Nations Championship semifinal against Nigeria as beaten opponents DR Congo prepare to go home.

It was a tightly-contested match and DRC had a penalty appeal denied in the dying seconds of the game.


Nigeria had earlier on Saturday defied the odds by coming from 3 goals down at half time to beat a highly spirited Morocco team 4 - 3 after extra time

Exclusive: Mata Completes Move to Manchester United

Juan Mata will arrive at Manchester United's Carrington training base by helicopter to complete his move to the Premier League champions.

A temporary landing pad has been installed at the training ground ahead of Mata's impending arrival.

The Spaniard will undergo a medical at the new £10m healthcare facility inside Carrington's grounds, with doctors already on site.

United agreed a £37 million fee with Chelsea for the World Cup and European Championship winner on Wednesday night.

There was a breakthrough in talks between the two clubs earlier that day, with the London club giving the 25-year-old permission to miss first-team training in the morning.

Mata is expected to make his debut for David Moyes’ side in their Premier League clash against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Cardiff City next Tuesday.

Chelsea will move for Basel's Mohamed Salah, who had been linked with Liverpool, as a replacement for the 25-year-old playmaker.

Details of the transfer emerged as United crashed out of the Capital One Cup to Sunderland on Wednesday evening.

Moyes' men missed four of their five shoot-out penalties after forcing extra-time thanks to a last-gasp Chicharito goal, which was scored just seconds after Phil Bardsley looked to have settled the tie for the Black Cats.

SOURCE

Exclusive: Mata Completes Move to Manchester United

Juan Mata will arrive at Manchester United's Carrington training base by helicopter to complete his move to the Premier League champions.

A temporary landing pad has been installed at the training ground ahead of Mata's impending arrival.

The Spaniard will undergo a medical at the new £10m healthcare facility inside Carrington's grounds, with doctors already on site.

United agreed a £37 million fee with Chelsea for the World Cup and European Championship winner on Wednesday night.

There was a breakthrough in talks between the two clubs earlier that day, with the London club giving the 25-year-old permission to miss first-team training in the morning.

Mata is expected to make his debut for David Moyes’ side in their Premier League clash against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Cardiff City next Tuesday.

Chelsea will move for Basel's Mohamed Salah, who had been linked with Liverpool, as a replacement for the 25-year-old playmaker.

Details of the transfer emerged as United crashed out of the Capital One Cup to Sunderland on Wednesday evening.

Moyes' men missed four of their five shoot-out penalties after forcing extra-time thanks to a last-gasp Chicharito goal, which was scored just seconds after Phil Bardsley looked to have settled the tie for the Black Cats.

SOURCE

Barca's 7 deadly sins according to MARCA

1. Struggling far too much in set pieces. This has been an endemic issue for Barcelona for quite some time, accounting for half the goals it has conceded this season.
2. The team gives away the first half of its games. Barcelona then pays the price of this lack of intensity in the first forty-five minutes.
3. Leo Messi is lacking match fitness. He played the full ninety minutes against Getafe in the Copa del Rey second leg and it has taken its toll. He has recovered, but needs to take it slowly.
4. Poor marksmanship on easy shots. Barça could have beaten Levante in Valencia with greater accuracy. Xavi and Messi both missed clear cut goals.
5. Tata made mistakes with the changes. One thing the coach has been criticised for is subbing off Cesc Fàbregas and Pedro Rodríguez - two of his currently most on-form players.
6. No clear game changers on the bench. With Neymar and Iniesta injured, there was no one who could turn the game against Levante around. And? Cristian Tello is not up to standard.
7. The full-backs are not coming forward. Montoya and Jordi Alba had no depth and the team suffered for it.

Yaya Toure wins Glo/CAF African Footballer of the Year 2013

Cote D'ivore/Manchester City player Yaya Toure has been named Glo/CAF African Player of Year 2013, beating Super Eagles and Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi & Didier Drogba of Cote D'ivore. Congrats to him. Was really rooting for Mikel...

Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, won African Coach of the Year. Congrats to all the winners...

Glo/CAF Awards: John Mikel Obi to fly to Lagos in Chelsea jet

The Glo/CAF African Player of the Year Award 2014 will hold tomorrow Thursday January 9th at Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos and one of its nominees, Super Eagles and Chelsea midfielder, John Mikel Obi, will be specially flown into Lagos for the ceremony in a jet provided by his club, Chelsea.

“I am coming for the CAF awards, I will be flown in and out of Nigeria by the Chelsea jet. I will arrive on the awards day and return immediately after,” Mikel told MTNFootball.com “It is an honour to be selected and nominated for the award. I am looking forward to winning it for my country.” He also said

Mikel is up against Cote d'Ivoire and Man City player Yaya Toure and Cote d'Ivoire and Galatasaray player, Didier Drogba. Yaya Toure won it last year..you think Mikel deserves to win it this year?

» Kelechi Iheanacho Finalizes Move To Manchester City «

The 17-year-old forward was the standout performer at the Fifa Under-17 World Cup in November, landing the Golden Ball with six goals as his Nigeria side stormed to the title.
His performances led to an unseemly scramble between clubs, agents and even family members with claims that he had been kidnapped emerging at one stage, but it appears to have finally been resolved with City winning the race for his signature.
A £250,000 transfer fee had been agreed, with a further £300,000 for the Taye Academy in Owerri, Nigeria where he was educated and £350,000 to Iheanacho's father, James.
The player is currently in Barcelona awaiting his UK work permit hearing after an incredible operation involving Spanish agents and contacts in Africa to get him out of the country where he was born.

World Cup Draw- Nigeria To Play Argentina, Others

Cup organisers on Friday opened the draw ceremony for next year’s finals in the Brazilian resort of Costa do Sauipe. A total of 32 teams
qualified for the finals and they were drawn into eight groups of four.

In Group A – Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon

      Group B – Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia Group C – Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan

      Group D – Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy

      Group E – Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras

      Group F – Argentina, Bosnia, Iran, Nigeria.

      Group G – Germany, Portugal, Ghana, USA

      Group H – Belgium, Algeria, Russia, South Kore

Vote for Nigeria Goal Player of the year

The winner of the accolade will be decided by you, the readers of Goal by voting for the player who deserves to be recognised for their stellar year

Since our launch in March 2012, Goal.com Nigeria has established itself as the country's number one football website and is growing from strength to strength. In December last year, we asked our readers to vote for their Nigeria Player of the Year, and you chose Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel.
With the end of 2013 fast approaching, the time has come for the second Goal Nigeria Player of the Year Award, which will be voted for by the readers of the site at the beginning of December.
The winning player will be announced in mid-December. We will provide our readers with exciting features dedicated to the best players in the country, along with news stories and exclusive interviews of former top Nigerian players tipping who they believe the contenders should be for 2013. Once Goal staff have decided on the top five stars of the year, readers will be given the opportunity to select the winner from that group.
All Nigerian players from the NPFL and abroad will be eligible to win this award, whether they currently play for the Super Eagles or not. The selection will be based on their performances over the course of this year only.
Readers are encouraged to discuss who they believe the contenders should be on our Facebook page and on our Twitter page, with the unique hash tag #GoalNigeriaPOTY.
Our journalists will produce a number of features dedicated to all the best Nigerian footballers over the year 2013. Then on Monday, December 2 we will reveal Nigeria’s top five players, and the voting can then begin.
May the best man win!

FIFA 2014 WORLD CUP: Tambuwal Wants Brazil 2014 Preparations to Begin Now

By  Amosun, Uduaghan, Glo, others hail Eagles

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has congratulated the players and handlers of the Super Eagles of Nigeria for securing a ticket to the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

In a statement issued in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, Tambuwal charged soccer administrators in the country to ensure that the team prepares for the global event early so as to make the necessary impact.

Tambuwal said with the experience of the team, they can go all the way and lift the trophy for the first time.
“It is time an African side lifts the trophy, and I am confident that we can be the first African side to win the trophy fir the continent,” he added.

Similarly, Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, praised the Super Eagles and their handlers on their 2-0 win over Ethiopia, to qualify for the Brazil 2014 edition of the World Cup.

Governor Amosun noted that being the first African team to qualify for the finals, and coming on the heels of the U17 Golden Eaglets’ World Cup victory, the players and indeed Nigeria are being given another shot at history.
In a press release signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mrs Funmi Wakama, Amosun urged the Super Eagles to be more determined than ever before to win the World Cup. He said their qualification has again demonstrated the unique position and supremacy of Nigeria in sports in general and football in particular.

“With the 4-1 aggregate win over Ethiopia and as the first African team to qualify from the continent, we have again demonstrated that as a people, we are unstoppable and that with determination, hard work and team spirit, we can achieve a lot. History once again beckons, the Super Eagles must grab this opportunity with both hands.” the governor said.

He expressed happiness at the victory and urged the Super Eagles not to see their qualification as an end in itself but a means to a glorious end.

Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan has congratulated Nigerians on the qualification and called for more training by the team to ensure that the team is well blended to enable Eagles win the cup.

Speaking to Journalists in Warri shortly after watching the world cup qualifying match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Antelopes of Ethiopia, Governor Uduaghan observed that the Super Eagles put up a good play observing that the Coach of the National Team, Stephen Keshi must have adopted a different approach to the game to ensure that they check the Ethiopians.

“Football is about strategy, the strategy of the Super Eagles was to win and they won, we should congratulate them,” the Governor said, adding: “We must understand that the Ethiopians were very hard players, they had a lot of stamina and Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi must have adopted an approach to win the game.”
“We are excited that we have qualified for the World Cup, this is a great victory coming shortly after the Under 17 team brought the world cup to Nigeria,” the Governor said, reiterating, “we are set to conquer the world in football.”

Ahead of the 2014 world cup, Governor Uduaghan called on Stephen Keshi not to relax after the qualification but should ensure that the team is well blended to enable them win the world cup in 2014, stating that efforts should be made to also ensure that the foreign based players are released to enable them train and be well blended before the commencement of the world cup.

Bauchi State Governor,Malam  Isa Yuguda has congratulated the team for the feat describing the qualification as another milestone in the soccer history of the country as contained in a press release issued and signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Ishola Michael Adeyemi.

Yuguda opined that the qualification of the National team for the World cup barely one week after the Golden Eaglets won the FIFA U-17 World cup in UAE is a confirmation that the country has now come of age in the world soccer scene.

The sports loving Isa Yuguda added that, “I never doubted the abilities of the team in qualifying for the mundial following the series of matches they played right from the African Nations Cup which they won convincingly in South Africa earlier this year”.

Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed,also praised the team  for the qualification.
Ahmed who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications (SSA) Dr. Muideen Akorede, yesterday in Ilorin said that, the performances of the team since the campaign for world cup started has justified the victory of the team to be in Brazil next year.

While Nigerian national football team’s major sponsor, Globacom has described 2013 as a good year for Nigerian football.
In a press release issued by the company on Saturday, immediately after the match,  Globacom said Nigeria started the year on a high and ended it on a high.

In the statement entitled “Triple Congratulations to a Blessed Nation”, Globacom said “by winning the African Cup of Nations in January, the Under 17 World Cup just last week and now qualifying for the World Cup, Nigeria’s football is clearly on the ascendancy.”

Also reacting to the victory, the President of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Chief Solomon Ogba, who watched the match with the Governor of Delta State, described the victory as victory for Nigerians, emphasizing, “as a Nigerian, I am very happy that we have qualified for the world cup. During the Under 17 world cup in United Arab Emirates, every black man identified with Nigeria whenever we were playing and we are happy that the Super Eagles have qualified for the world.”

The organisers of the Nigerian Sports Award (NSA) has commended Super Eagles head Coach  Stephen Keshi  who is one of the nominees for the Coach of the Year category of the award for leading Nigeria to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

According to Kayode Idowu, General Manager, Unmissable Incentives Limited organisers of the award commended Keshi and his squad for their brilliant performance in ensuring that the country flag will be hoisted in Brazil next year.

“Football is one of the unifying factors in the country and Keshi and his boys have united the country with this world cup qualification. The team started well and ended well. Keshi has not only demonstrated quality of a good coach but a good leader as well,” Idowu said.

Elephants Qualify for Brazil 2014

Cote d'Ivoire qualified for their third World Cup in a row by drawing 1-1 with Senegal in Casablanca, Morocco.
The Ivorians emerged as 4-2 aggregate winners, but it took a Salomon Kalou goal deep into stoppage time to make sure of their place in Brazil.
A Moussa Sow penalty late in the game had put Senegal within one strike of taking the place themselves.
The 2002 World Cup quarter-finalists missed a golden chance seconds before Kalou struck on the counter-attack, reports the BBC.
The equaliser was barely deserved but Ivorians will give that little thought as they begin to make plans for next summer's tournament in Brazil.
In both 2006 and 2010, the Elephants were placed in tough groups so they will be hoping for kinder opposition when the draw for the finals is made on 6 December.
They qualify unbeaten but that record was in serious danger after a largely lifeless display by Sabri Lamouchi's side.
The match was played in Morocco after Senegal were barred from playing in Dakar following a riot at a Nations Cup qualifier against the Ivorians last year.
Denied home advantage, the 2002 World Cup quarter-finalists nevertheless forced much of the play, after coach Alain Giresse made five changes to the side that lost 3-1 in last month's opening leg in Abidjan.
Having overlooked Chelsea striker Demba Ba for the tie, the Frenchman continued to surprise by dropping regular captain Mohamed Diame.
But it was one of those who retained his starting place, Dame Ndoye, who had the first chance, his header goalwards acrobatically cleared by Didier Drogba.
Denmark-based Ndoye further troubled.

Ronaldo Puts Portugal in Sight of World Cup, Ukraine Stun France

Cristiano Ronaldo upstaged Zlatan Ibrahimovic in a showdown of superstar forwards Friday, sending Portugal past Sweden 1-0 in a World Cup playoff. France's hopes of qualifying took a big hit with a 2-0 loss in Ukraine.
Ronaldo transferred his prolific scoring touch from Real Madrid to the international stage, diving to head home the lone goal in the 82nd minute. The second leg is Tuesday in Stockholm.
France faces the prospect of missing a major tournament for the first time since 1994 after Roman Zozulya and Andriy Yarmolenko scored second-half goals for Ukraine.
Kostas Mitroglou scored twice to help Greece beat visiting Romania 3-1, reports The Associated Press.
Iceland held on with 10 men to draw 0-0 with Croatia, keeping alive its chances of becoming the least populous nation to reach a World Cup.
Italy drew 1-1 with Germany and an experimental England side slumped to a 2-0 home loss to Chile in headline friendly matches.
One of the world's top forwards will be absent in Brazil next summer - and it looks more likely to be Ibrahimovic, not Ronaldo.
Ronaldo dived to glance in a left-wing cross for his 44th goal in 108 international appearances, and almost added another when he headed against the crossbar.
Ibrahimovic was largely anonymous in Lisbon and, at the age of 32, could be set to miss out on what would likely be his final World Cup campaign.
Another star of the world game, Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery, also might be absent in Brazil after France tumbled to defeat in Kiev on a night that proved to be one to forget for Laurent Koscielny. The Arsenal defender conceded the penalty that Yarmolenko converted for 2-0 in the 83rd minute, and was then sent off in stoppage time.
Iceland, with a population of around 320,000, is seeking a place in a major tournament for the first time but the biggest soccer match in the Nordic country's history turned sour when Olafur Skulason was sent off for a professional foul in the 51st.
However, goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson and his packed defence stood firm to repel wave after wave of Croatia attacks in the second half. The 10,000 Iceland fans in the Laugardalsvollur national stadium greeted the final whistle as if their team had won.
Italy maintained its proud record of not having lost to Germany since 1995 - but needed a 28th-minute equalizer by Ignazio Abate to preserve that run.
Germany took the lead in the eighth minute through Mats Hummels and twice hit the goal frame in Milan.
In another match between two World Cup qualifiers, Chile ended England's 10-game unbeaten run thanks to Alexis Sanchez's double at Wembley Stadium.
The Barcelona forward scored in the seventh minute and again in second-half injury time to deliver a reality check for England, which gave three players debuts.
RESULTS
    Turkey 1 - 0 Northern Ireland
    R. of Ireland 3 - 0 Latvia
    England 0 - 2 Chile
    Scotland 0 - 0 USA
    South Korea 2 - 1 Switzerland
    Belarus 0 - 0 Albania
    Czech Rep. 2 - 0 Canada
    Russia 1 - 1 Serbia
    Estonia 2 - 1 Azerbaijan
    Denmark 2 - 1 Norway
    Italy 1 - 1 Germany
    Poland 0 - 2 Slovakia

World Cup qualifier: Rufai demands convincing victory from Eagles

Former Nigerian goalkeeper, Peter Rufai has charged the Super Eagles to bring thirst and hunger into the duel against the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia.

The 2013 Afcon winners will clash with the East African foes in a decisive tie for a place in the Brazil 2014 World Cup at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar today.

Rufai said the Eagles should not only win the encounter convincingly but by their performance drill the message into the brains of the Ethiopians that both sides are not of same category.

“We’re expecting nothing but a convincing victory. The victory should be total and humbling. I don’t want it written that we managed to qualify for the World Cup. I want us to qualify in grand style that even the Ethiopians will admit they met their superiors.

Mark Pleads with Super Eagles To Make Nigerians Proud

Senate President David Mark on Friday pleaded with the Super Eagles to put in their best to ensure an overwhelming victory in the Saturday's crucial 2014 World Cup qualification encounter with their Ethiopian counterparts in Calabar, Cross River State.
Mark stated this in a good will message to the Players and officials of the Super Eagles  already in Calabar as contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Paul Mumeh.
He reminded them that beside the qualification for the World Cup in Brazil, national pride was at stake against the Ethiopians.
The Senate President said the Super Eagles are clearly the favourites but they should not leave any thing to chance because the Ethiopians are also desperate to clinch victory.
He said, "As African champions, your pride and that of the nation is at stake. This is opportunity we cannot afford to miss. Nigerian spirit is already in Brazil and we cannot afford to fail.
"Government and people of Nigeria are behind you in prayer and are assuring you that all that is needed to be done in terms of your welfare would not be compromised."
The National Assembly, he pointed out, has resolved to increase budgetary allocation to sports.
He said, "This is because we have discovered that it is a great tool for peace and unity in Nigeria.
"We also have comparative advantage in football and we would do the needful to promote and sustain the momentum."
Mark for the umpteenth time saluted the victorious golden Eaglets and told the senior team to maintain the winning stream"

YAYA TOURE ON COURSE FOR THIRD AFRICAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR ACCOLADE

The CAF has released the names of
25 candidates for this year’s edition,
while there are 21 names for the
best players based on the continent
Yaya Toure is on course to take home
his third African Player of the Year
award after the CAF published the
names of candidates for the 2013
prize, as well as a second accolade
which only involves players based on
the continent.
The long list for the premier
individual football prize in Africa is
made of 25 players, with AFCON
reigning champion Nigeria having
the highest number of
representatives with five players,
followed by Cote D'Ivoire, providing
three candidates, including Didier
Drogba.
Cape Verde, which broke onto the
continental scene this year at the
Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa,
also has two men representing it:
Platini and Ryan Mendes.
Roma summer signings Mehdi
Benatia and Gervinho make the list,
while new Borussia Dortmund
attacker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
is named among the nominees.
Egypt's Mohamed Aboutrika and
Ethiopian Saladin Said are the only
players based in Africa on the list
for the flagship award.
The category for the Africa-based
Player of the Year has 21 nominees,
including three from CAF Champions
League winner Al Ahly.
The winners will be announced at
the GLO-CAF Awards Gala scheduled
for Jan. 9, 2014 in Lagos, Nigeria.

Referees’ Committee to Specify Hospital for Members' Medical Test

The Referees’ Committee of the Nigeria Football
Federation (NFF) has said that it would henceforth specify
hospitals where referees would undergo their medical
tests.
The committee’s Chairman, Suleiman Mu’azu said that the
decision was meant to check the issuance of fake medical
certificates.
Mu’azu was speaking against the backdrop of the death of
a Lagos-based referee, Osita Nwadiashi, during the 2013
fitness test held in Abuja from November 4 to November
8.
``What we are going to do now is to designate at least one
hospital in each state.
``For instance, here in Abuja, the National Hospital; in
Kaduna, you say the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU)
Teaching Hospital, so that everyone that is going to have
his medical test will do it in that hospital.
``We are collaborating once more with the NFF's Medical
Committee to ensure that we get the best of medical
services offered to our members.
Mu’azu said although the committee together with NFF's
Medical Committee had endeavoured to ascertain
referees’ state of health, he noted that the existing
measures were not enough.
He said that the committee usually carried out the fitness
test for the FIFA-badged referees but did little in handling
the test for the local referees in view of their large
number.
Mu’azu said the medical test was more comprehensive
than the fitness test, adding that the existing requirement
was an improvement over the previous one.
``For the FIFA referees, we bring them to Abuja and carry
them to the Villa clinic to carry out all the necessary tests
(because) they are about 20.
``But for the National physical fitness test that involves
Premier League referees and the National League
referees, about 800, the number is too large for us to
bring to Abuja at a time.
``So, we directed that the sample form that was
recommended to us by the NFF medical committee be sent
to all the referees’ councils in the state; you go and see a
qualified doctor to do all the necessary tests.
``The medical doctor that tested you must put his name,
license number, telephone number and his hospital.
It would be recalled that the head of the committee’s
Medical Unit, Ephraim Chukwuemeka, had alleged that the
late Nwadiashi presented a fake medical certificate
during the fitness test.