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The troubled Nigeria Premier League (NPL) has said it will begin an inquest into an alleged N12 million (about $75 000) fraud.

The NPL acting executive secretary, Tunji Babalolam said that, although he cannot go into any detail at the moment, and investigation will be made into the allegations.

“I can't comment on it (the allegation of the N12 million fraud). The league board currently cannot sit because of the court case. We (at the secretariat) are investigating the matter. First we will be getting details from the banks where we have accounts to get to the root of the matter.

“It is unfortunate that this report has come up at a time like this. Nothing is confirmed yet because we cannot just take up the matter against people at the (NPL) accounts department until we have proof of stolen money. For now we are investigating and as soon as we get further information on the alleged stolen money then we will make it public.

“I must make it clear that any offender found guilty in this allegation will not be spared as the NPL has a name to protect before its sponsors and Nigerians,” said Babalola ?on Monday.

The NPL, before it was declared an illegal body by a Federal High Court in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, was investigating an allegation of a missing N30 million ($187 500) from its coffers last year.

No fewer than 250 participants from the 15-member nations of ECOWAS will take part in the Second ECOWAS International Cycling Tour billed to flag off on Feb. 15.

A press statement released by ECOWAS said the tour would take place from Feb. 15 to Feb. 19.

The tour caravan is expected to traverse five countries, namely Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire where the competition would terminate.

The race, which would cover a total distance of 450 kilometres, would be flagged off at the National Stadium in Lagos and terminate in Abidjan on Feb. 19.

The ECOWAS international cycling tour would be over the four stages of Lagos-Cotonou, Cotonou-Lome, Ada-Accra and Abuaso-Abidjan.

The statement quoted Mr Francis Njoguani, the Director of ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development Centre, adding that there would be three motorised transfers in the course of the race.

It said each of the 15-member nations of ECOWAS would be expected to field a team of six cyclists and five accompanying officials.

The statement added that there would be prize money and trophies for winners at the various stages of the race, as well as the overall tour winner and team standing.

There would also be prizes for sprint races and the best young cyclist.

Njoguani also explained that the staging of the second edition followed on the heels of the maiden competition held in 2009 and which covered Lagos to Accra.

He said the race was initiated by ECOWAS Heads of State to further the community’s ideals of regional integration and the free movement of persons.

“These are to serve as a tool to actualise the ECOWAS Vision 2020 of transforming from an ‘ECOWAS of States to an ECOWAS of People’,’’ the director said.

According to the statement, the maiden edition was successful and many more people had been looking forward to the current edition.

The second ECOWAS international cycling tour was being financed by the ECOWAS Commission.

Dolphins FC of Port Harcourt manager, Stanley Eguma, says the team is prepared to play in the CAF Champions League.

Dolphins will play their first match at away, against a club from Equatorial Guinea later this month.

Eguma told sportswriters in Port Harcourt shortly after his team defeated league leaders, Gombe United, 2-1 in Sunday’s Premier League match, that “I am optimistic of a good outing in the CAF Champions League.

“My players will continue to improve as the league progresses. We are also sure of a good outing in the CAF Champions' League.

“We are satisfied with the outcome of the match against Gombe United. It was a good match,” he said.

Dolphins’ Adamu Mohammed shot his side into the lead in the 37th minute while old timer, Alhaji Kwaranga, equalised for Gombe in the 42nd minute.

Saidu Abu of Dolphins scored the second goal for his side in the 57th minute.

Gombe manager, Bernard Ogbe, said he was disappointed at the failure of his team to take something away from the game.

“We will go back to the drawing board and correct areas of mistake. We played against a good side,’’ he said.

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The new season is finally here, and the question everybody is asking, again, is if Tiger Woods is really back?

Who wouldn’t love to see Eldrick succeed the way he did from 1996 to 2009, before we all got to know his dirty little secret(s)?

Woods finished third at his last official 2011 tournament, the Emirates Australian Open, before playing the Presidents Cup, which the U.S. team won and where he showed a glimpse of what his short game used to be and hoisted the Chevron World Challenge trophy.

Woods may never be the golfer he used to be, he’s not a youngster anymore, but at age 36, he still has a lot of years ahead of him, so don’t count him out just yet.

After his performance at last week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, Woods proved that the good pace he showed at the end of last season was not just a stroke of luck; he’s actually getting consistency back.

He decided to take a couple of weeks off after the Chevron and went back to work “from the green back,” he said prior to the first round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.

After four rounds of good golf in the desert, Wood’s improvement is evident.
He shot two bogey-free rounds. On Thursday, he had two birdies and 16 pars; on Saturday, six birdies and 12 pars. Woods hadn’t done that since the 2008 Buick Invitational when he birdied seven holes of the second round and six of the third.

It was also in 2008 when Woods won his last major—the U.S. Open after birding the 72nd hole and forcing an 18-hole playoff against Rocco Mediate.

It’s true that he entered Abu Dhabi’s final round co-leading with Rory McIlroy, and it was Robert Rock who sealed the deal. Eldrick, however, managed to get into the Official World Golf Ranking’s Top 20, which he left for the first time in 14 years, last July.

All of this, plus Woods’ desire to post good results in major championships, can lead us to think that he will finally end the two-year-drought in the Grand Slam department.

During his pre-tournament interview, he was questioned about winning majors, to which he responded: “I’m looking forward to it”.

If Woods keeps it up, the Masters seems like a good fit for him, he’s always done better in that major than in the other three championships.

He has played every single Masters since 1995. The only time he missed the cut was in 1996—the first time he played it as a professional golfer.

He recovered fast, though, and a year later, he captured his first major victory at Augusta, and he did it in style. He set the widest winning margin (12 strokes) and the lowest winning score (18-under) records, which still stand.
Also in 1997, he became the youngest green jacket recipient.

The two most successful teams in the last seven years Man United and Chelsea will clash today at Stamford Bridge in this early awaited encounter. Man United and Chelsea have won the league between them in the last seven season and in previous seasons, this match always go a long way in deciding the league title. But things are different this season as Chelsea are 12 points behind Man United and are struggling to qualify for the Champions League. Man United has won their last four games against Chelsea. In the first leg at Old Trafford Man United won 3-1 but the game will be remembered more for Fernando Torress shocking miss arguably the miss of the season so far.

Chelsea led by Andre Villa Boas is suffering the worst run since Roman Abramovic took over at the club. On Tuesday, a last minute strike by Bosingwa gave Chelsea a one all draw at Chelsea, their second straight draw and their sixth draw this season. Chelsea has been poor all season, poor in front of goal, defensive frailties and lack of creativity in midfield.

No Chelsea player has scored 10 premier league goals this season.Fernando Torres has not scored in the premier league since September. But he has? a decent record against United as he has scored 4 goals in his last 7 Premier League games against the RedsThey will be missing several players for this encounter, Ashley Cole is suspended,Ramirez,Lampard and Mikel are out injured while Didier Drogba is still currently with Cote DIvoire in the ongoing African Nations Cup.Chelsea are seven points off Tottenham in third place and are just above Liverpool,a loss and Liverpool win will put a serious dent in their top four aspirations.

This game is a must win for Andre Villa Boas side.Chelsea keeper Peter Cech believes Chelsea are completely out of the title race,he said: “We don’t even have to mention the word ‘title’ because the Manchester clubs will not drop many points – that’s the reality,I still think it is realistic to target the third sport, though. For that we will need to succeed in today’s tough match at home to United.”

Man United win on Tuesday put them level on point with Manchester City but have an inferior goal difference to City.Man United have been in a good run in the premier league and have won their last three premier league games with Antonia Valencia returning back to form with nine assists in his last 11 games.Man United have the best away record in the premier league this season.But Man United have not beaten Chelsea in their last nine visits to Stamford Bridge in the league.

The last time collected three points at Stamford Bridge was in 2002.Man United striker Wayne Rooney has scored 4 goals in his last 7 Premier League appearances against Chelsea and also netted on his last two visits to Stamford bridge, one in the league and one in the Champions League last season in the semifinal.This game will prove a test for the title bid but has Ferguson has shown over the years he is the master of the game when it comes to the premier league and winning when it really matters.

It’s West Africa versus North Africa today as tournament favourites Ghana will tonight take on Tunisia for the semi final ticket in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations. With the absence of big guns, Ghana and Ivory Coast have been installed as the favourites to win this Nations Cup. While Ivory Coast qualified with maximum points, Ghana qualified with seven points. The last time these two sides met was in an international friendly in 2008 and the game ended in a goalless draw.

Ghana have been less than convincing since the inception of the tournament, with their star studded cast much is expected from the team. Ghanaian football has been on the rise in the past five years, their U-20 side won the World Cup, a first for any African country. They also made it to the quarter finals of the World Cup and Luis Suarez infamous handball cost them the semi final. Ghana who are four-time winners of the Nations Cup will have to step up their game if they are to win their fifth Nations Cup. The last time Ghana won the Nations Cup was in 1982. Ghana defeated Botswana 1-0 in their first game before despatching Mali 2-0 in the second leg and played out a 1-1 draw against a 10-man Guinea in their last game to finish top of the group. So far Ghana have not shown their championship winning material.

Ghana assistant coach Kwasi Appiah believes opponents prepare well when facing Ghana. “The name of Ghana rose so high after the World Cup and therefore teams coming to play against us come in with very high motivation”, he said. “Everybody coming to play Ghana all of a sudden prepares very differently and comes in with a different mentality because they believe they are coming up against the best in Africa.”

Tunisia on the other hand will be looking to make it to the semi final for the first time since 2004 when they hosted and won the competition on home soil. After then, they exited at the quarter finals in the next two Nations Cup and in the last Nations Cup in Anglola? in 2010 they crashed out of the first round. Tunisia opened their Nations Cup campaign with a 2-1 victory against Morocco in the North Africa Derby followed by another 2-1 win over Niger.In their last game against host Gabon, they lost by a lone goal to finish second in the group. Youssef Msakni has been in stunning form for the Carthage Eagles, he has been the star man for Tunisia so far with two goals. Veteran Adel Chadli has been sent home from the Tunisia squad due to disciplinary problems.

Meanwhile , host Gabon are making the quarter-finals of the Nations Cup for the first time since 1996. And if they beat Mali ,they will be making the semi-final for the first time in their history. They will be full of confidence with the home crowd behind them but they will be up against a Malian side led by Barcelona mid-fielder Seydou Keita. Mali finished fourth in the Nations Cup in 2002 and 2004 and since then have been on a downfall. They crashed out of the Nations Cup in the first round in their last two Nations Cup appearance.

Star player Seydou Keita believes Gabon will provide a tough test for his side,he said: We are planning to play against them, but I must confess to you that it’s going to be a tough match. Gabon will be playing at home before some 40,000 supporters. They defeated two top favourites of the tournament – Morocco and Tunisia – to lead their group. We will surely be playing like we’ve got nothing to lose. I think that should be the best option for now to ease the tension and pressure on us because the road is now rougher.

With exactly six months to the London 2012 Games, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has handed over the Olympic and Paralympic Village site to the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG).

Four-time Olympic gold medalist, Matthew Pinsent, helped to facilitate the LOCOG’s bedding process, lifting the first of more than 16,000 beds to be installed. Work will now begin on the huge process to fit out the new apartments and Village site ready to welcome athletes and officials from around the world in six months’ time.

The ODA started work on the Village in June 2008 and has now completed the construction of 2,818 new apartments on time. These apartments have been built in 11 residential plots, complete with spacious courtyards, gardens and balconies, in a project that has provided work for more than 16,500 people.

In statement placed in London Games’ website, ODA Chairman, John Armitt said: “The Olympic and Paralympic Village has been built by companies from every part of the UK, working together to ensure it was completed on time and overcoming the challenges posed by the credit crunch and economic downturn.

“We will be finishing the landscaping as winter turns into spring, and then returning after the Games to complete the transformation to create new homes for Londoners.”

The Olympic and Paralympic Village will be able to house up to 16,000 athletes and team officials during the Olympic Games, and 6,200 athletes and team officials plus 1,000 referees and umpires during the Paralympic Games.

The overlay work to get the Village ready includes installing 64,000 bed sheets and 11,000 sofas, constructing the 24-hour main dining facility with 5,000 seats, and building the Olympic Village Plaza, the main social hub featuring essential shops and services.

LOCOG Chair Seb Coe said: “With the Village now handed over we are starting the huge process to install essential facilities and services ready to welcome competitors from around the world in six months’ time.”

After the Games, the Village will create a legacy of new homes across 11 individually-designed plots in a new community to be known as East Village. Of these homes, 1,379 have been purchased by joint venture Triathlon Homes to provide high-quality affordable housing.

The remaining 1,439 properties will become private housing after being acquired by a consortium of UK developer Delancey and the Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company.

John Terry has been stripped of the England captaincy, sources close to the defender have told BBC Sport.
The 31-year-old Chelsea centre-back was informed of the decision by Football Association chairman David Bernstein in a phone call at 1000 GMT.
He is due to stand trial in July over racial abuse allegations after an incident with QPR's Anton Ferdinand.
Terry, who lost the captaincy once previously, has entered a plea of not guilty to the charge.
Bernstein spoke to FA board members and the majority view was that Terry should be stood down.
The chairman was also expected to consult England coach Fabio Capello about the issue on Friday.
Capello has until now maintained the position that Terry is innocent until proven guilty and that he should be free to select him as his captain until his trial is over.
There was some nervousness among board members as to how the Italian would react, with some fearing he will see it as undue interference in team affairs.
But there was an acceptance among the FA hierarchy that the matter should be taken out of his hands.

Terry in action at the 2010 World Cup (UK users only)
The FA has been forced to act after Terry's case was adjourned until 9 July – a week after the Euro 2012 finals end – ensuring that the affair will dominate the build-up to the championships.
For some time now Bernstein has been growing increasingly concerned at the FA's position on Terry.
Some board members have lobbied him to take decisive action to ensure the FA is not accused of being weak on racism.
Black players within the England squad have also been putting pressure on the Professional Footballers' Association to take a stronger stance on Terry.
This is believed to have also played a part in forcing the FA to act.
Terry was previously stripped of the captaincy when Capello removed him from the role in February 2010? following allegations he had an affair with an England team-mate's ex-girlfriend.
Terry was reinstated 13 months later with Capello saying “one year of punishment is enough”.
Former FA chief executive Mark Palios questioned why the FA had opted to change its stance on Terry, having kept him as captain since the allegations were first made in October.
He told BBC Radio 5 live: “What the FA has to do is a balancing act between the rights of the individual and the wider game. I don't know how that will affect the dressing room and make it better than it was by keeping him in the squad but taking the captaincy off him.”
Mark Perryman, of the England supporters' club, told 5 live it was difficult to understand why the case was taking 10 months to come to court.
“The court case should have been dealt with immediately,” he said. “As a result the FA have got themselves in an incredible tangle of him playing but not being captain.
“Mark Palios is right to question what has happened in the last 24 hours to make the FA act.”

Football enthusiasts on Thursday in Lagos expressed shock over the death of a former Super Falcons’ player, Felicia Eze, who died in Anambra, aged 38.

In separate interviews with newsmen, the fans described Eze's death as a great loss to the country.

A former Super Falcons' Coach, Rolandson Odeh, said the news of the midfielder's death was shocking, and that she died at a time female football needed her expertise.

“She died at a stage when female football needed her expertise to develop; when I heard the news, I was shocked because I spoke to her some months back,” Odeh said.

Peter Oguche, a board member of the Nigeria Women Premier League (NWPL), said the late player would be remembered for her contributions to the team.

“I cannot comprehend why she had to die at this time; she is just too young but who are we to question God?,” Oguche said.

Nnenna Etim, also a former Super Falcons’ assistant coach, described the player's death as “shocking”, and a sad way to start the New Year.

“This is a very sad way to begin the year, I pray that God will give her family the fortitude to bear the loss,” she said.

Eze was a member of the Super Falcons' team to the Greece 2004 Olympic Games where Nigeria got to the quarter-finals.

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Legendary trainer Angelo Dundee has died in Florida, aged 90.

Dundee, famous for working alongside Muhammad Ali for 20 years, is reported to have had a heart attack after being taken to hospital with a blood clot.

He guided Ali through his greatest fights, including the 'The Rumble in the Jungle' with George Foreman .

His son, Jimmy Dundee, said: “Thankfully, the whole family was with him. We have lost a great man. My dad led a wonderful life.”

A legend in the world of boxing, Angelo Dundee was America's most famous cornerman, a role he filled for Muhammad Ali and 14 other champions

While Dundee's name was synonymous with Ali's, he worked with 14 further world champions, including Sugar Ray Leonard, George Foreman and Jimmy Ellis, during a distinguished career.

But it was his partnership with Ali which became one of the most successful in boxing history.

Dundee, born in Philadelphia, teamed up with Ali after his Olympic gold medal success in Rome in 1960 and guided him to his first heavyweight title, against Sonny Liston in 1964.

He helped Ali to two further titles, travelling to Zaire for his fighter's memorable victory over Foreman and to the Philippines in 1974 for the 'Thrilla in Manila' against Joe Frazier in 1975.

Dundee was instrumental in Ali's victory over Henry Cooper in London in 1963. Ali – then called Cassius Clay – was knocked down by Cooper but was saved by the bell.

The trainer then made a tear in one of his fighter's gloves, delaying the start of the next round and allowing Ali to regain his senses. He went on to win the next round and the fight.

It sums up the kind of man that Angelo Dundee was that Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard would want to be with him for virtually their entire careers.

What was significant about Dundee is that you find trainers some of whom are brilliant in the gym but not so good on fight nights in the corner because they can't handle the occasion and the atmosphere.

But Angelo Dundee was equally adept in the gym or on big nights in the corner.

One of the all time greats and, as Bob Arum said, the greatest motivator of all time.

Dundee was always there for his protegee: when he joined the Black Muslims and became Muhammad Ali and when he defied the draft at the height of the Vietnam war, losing three-and-a-half years from his career.

Dundee gave him the nickname 'The Louisville Lip', and Ali wrote in the forward to Dundee's book: “Through all those days of controversy, and the many that followed, Angelo never got involved.

“He let me be exactly who I wanted to be, and he was loyal. That is the reason I love Angelo.”

Dundee trained Leonard for many of his biggest fights, including bouts against Wilfred Benitez, Roberto Duran and Thomas Hearns, when he famously shouted, “You're blowing it, son. You're blowing it” to inspire his charge to victory by knockout.

Dundee was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1994 and attended Ali's 70th birthday party last month.

Promoter Bob Arum said he had been planning to bring Dundee to Las Vegas on 18 February for a charity gala headlined by Ali.

“He was wonderful. He was the whole package,” Arum said. “Angelo was the greatest motivator of all time. No matter how bad things were, Angelo always put a positive spin on them. That's what Ali loved so much about him.”

Angelo Dundee Factfile

1921: Born Angelo Mirena in Philadelphia
1960: Begins training one-fight novice Muhammad Ali, then called Cassius Clay
1963: Helps Ali avoid beat Henry Cooper
1964: Ali defeats Sonny Liston to become world heavyweight champion
1971: Ali, back from boxing exile, loses to Joe Frazier
1974: Helps Ali avenge Frazier defeat and then shock George Foreman in Zaire
1975: Ali beats Frazier in the 'Thrilla in Manila'
1979: 'Sugar' Ray Leonard wins WBC welterweight title by beating Wilfred Benitez with Dundee in his corner
1992: Inducted into Boxing Hall of Fame
1994: Works Foreman's corner as he knocks out Michael Moorer to regain the world title
2012: Attends Ali's 70th birthday celebrations
1 February: Dies in Florida

And he added: “Ali was this unbelievable figure, and a guy who symbolised an entire era of American culture and was idolised around the world.

“And through all those times, the person at his side was Dundee. For that, he will always be remembered.”

American sportswriter Bert Sugar, ghostwriter of Dundee's autobiography, said: “He did things so subtly and he did them because he was Angelo Dundee and he was investing himself in his fighters.

“He would teach Ali how to do things and let Ali think it was his idea. He would finish Ali's poems for him when Ali couldn't come up with a line.”

Britain's former WBA heavyweight champion David Haye tweeted:? “R.I.P. Angelo Dundee. The Greatest Coach ever. I had the pleasure of spending time with him in Miami last year. What a true gentleman.”

Dundee died surrounded by his family. “It was the way he wanted to go,” Jimmy Dundee said. “He did everything he wanted to do.

“He was coming along good yesterday [Tuesday] and then he started to have breathing problems. My wife was with him at the time, thank God, and called and said he can't breathe.

“We all got over there. All the grandkids were there. He didn't want to go slowly.”

Culled from BBCSports.com

Sierra Leone’s Under-20 Women Football team has withdrawn from the African qualifiers of the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, a Nigeria Football Association (NFA) official said.

NFA's Chief Technical Officer, Siji Lagunju who made the disclosure in Abuja on Wednesday, said? that the first and second leg matches between Nigeria and Sierra Leone had? been? cancelled.

“This means that Nigeria has now advanced to the next round of the qualifiers.''

The Sierra Leonean team would have played the first leg match with Nigeria on Feb. 18 in Sierra Leone, while the second leg was scheduled for Nigeria on March 3.

The Nigerian team, also known as the Falconets, has been in camp in Abuja since Jan. 20 for the first leg match.

Lagunju quoted a letter from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) stating that the Nigerian team had automatically qualified for the second round of the qualifiers.

“We regret to inform you that the team of Sierra Leone withdrew from Africa preliminaries of 2012 FIFA U-20 Women World Cup.

“Consequently, the earlier scheduled first round matches between the two countries have been cancelled and the Nigerian team is qualified for the next round of the competition,'' the letter read.

Sierra Leone qualified for the first round after Guinea withdrew in the preliminary round while Nigeria had drawn bye for the first round.

Festus Allen, coach of the Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan, says the club is ready for its week 6 match against the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) champions, Dolphins FC of Port Harcourt.

The match will hold on Wednesday at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, Ogun.

The 3SC’s home matches have been relocated to Abeokuta as a result of the ongoing renovation work at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan.

The NPL board has refused to allow the club to use the stadium in spite of the progress in the renovation work.

The Oluyole Warriors’ home matches cannot also hold at the state-owned Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan because of the dilapidated state of the stadium.?

Allen, who spoke on Monday with the club’s official website (www.shootingstarssc.net) shortly after the team’s training session at the University of Ibadan Sports complex, said he was not scared of any team, including Dolphins.

“We are prepared for the game and will fight very hard to win,’’ Allen said.

He said the training session the club has had so far, would further help him to work on the tactics for the match.

Reviewing the team’s last away game against Niger Tornadoes in Minna, Allen said his boys were unlucky to have left Minna without a point.

“We did very well but were undone by several offside calls,’’ the coach added.

The coach also spoke on the inability of his strikers to score goals in the last three games.

“As you can see in our training, we have been working on goal scoring and I am happy that the boys scored a lot of goals.

“I want to challenge the boys to translate what they have learnt in training into reality in their match against Dolphins on Wednesday,” he added.

He said that he would continue to work hard in other to accomplish his objective of leading the team back to greatness.

The Shooting Stars will host Dolphins on Wednesday in a match they want to win to improve their fortune on the NPL table.

The team travelled to Abeokuta on Tuesday ahead of the match.