Genius Moment: Morata comes back to haunt Real Madrid

The Spain striker, who left the Bernabeu in a €20 million deal last summer, has bagged four goals in six Champions League knockout games to lead Juventus to the final

On paper, Alvaro Morata does not stand out as having been a roaring success for Juventus given his €20 million price tag; his seven Serie A goals this season put him behind Middlesbrough flop Massimo Maccarone, among others, and less than halfway to 37-year-old Luca Toni’s total.

But it is in European competition that Morata is making his presence felt, and with one goal at the home of the club he joined as a teenager he has repaid his transfer fee by sending Juventus to their first Champions League final since 2003.

Morata now has four goals in his last six Champions League games. No Spanish player has scored more in the competition this season. He netted one at home and one away against Borussia Dortmund, and repeated the trick to even greater importance against Real Madrid, scoring two of Juventus’ three goals over 180 minutes.

Given Karim Benzema’s recent injury, Carlo Ancelotti may regret letting Morata leave. “I barely had any kind of relationship with Ancelotti,” he said in March. “Max Allegri, for better or worse, is always looking after me.” His contribution cannot only be measured in terms of his own performances but also in what he has brought out of Carlos Tevez, who is playing the best football of his career.

At 6ft 2in, Morata is capable of holding the ball up and bringing others into play but does so with greater precision and thought than Fernando Llorente. Tevez buzzed around him and was Juventus’ most creative player again, but Morata’s extra physical presence allowed him to pounce on Paul Pogba’s knockdown and punch a hole in the Madrid defence. 

Barcelona await in Berlin. They have beaten the reigning champions of England, France and Germany on their way to the final but Italy’s top club can justifiably claim to boast the best defence in the world. If they can avoid the mistakes of the clubs Barcelona have faced so far, their young star in attack could be a difference-maker once again.

Liga strike suspended

The final two rounds of the Liga season will go ahead after a Spanish High Court ruling on Thursday

A players' strike which threatened to disrupt the end of the Liga season has been suspended.

The Spanish High Court decided on Thursday the strike was illegal, meaning the final two rounds of games - as well as the Copa del Rey final - can now go ahead. 

The strike was initially called by the Spanish Football Association (RFEF) in conjunction with the players' union (AFE) following a dispute over the distribution of television revenue.

The Spanish government announced a new television rights deal on April 30 that will see the introduction of a more collective system that will no longer allow the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona to negotiate their own contracts for the broadcasting of their league games.

The new agreement was widely praised but the AFE, which believes it neglects to address some key issues, called a strike for the last two weekends of the season, starting on May 16.

Its decision was seconded by the RFEF, and although talks took place between the AFE and Spain's Professional Football League (LFP) in Madrid on Tuesday, no progress was made.

A decision was delayed on Wednesday but the court in Madrid opted on Thursday to play the games, meaning Barcelona can clinch the title this weekend with a win at defending champions Atletico Madrid.

A number of high-profile players, including Real Madrid's Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos, have given their support to the AFE.

Ancelotti: Benzema fit to face Juventus

The Italian says the Frenchman is ready to return after a month out with a knee injury but he has yet to decide whether to start the forward

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that Karim Benzema is "100 per cent fit" for Wednesday's Champions League showdown with Juventus.

The France international has been out of action for a month with a knee problem but has been given the green light to make his eagerly-awaited return to action in the semi-final, second-leg clash with the Bianconeri at the Santiago Bernabeu.

However, Ancelotti has yet to decide whether to start the striker, with Madrid trailing 2-1 on aggregate after last week's meeting in Turin.

"Benzema is fine," the Italian told reporters on Tuesday. "He's 100% fit.

"He needed a bit more time to recover but he's ready. He could play from the start or he could come on later on.

"But Benzema allows us to play a more effective offensive game, with more quality, because he is not a typical striker.

"He doesn't just score goals but also enables his team-mates to play better."

Ancelotti is also hoping that Madrid's fans get behind their team, with the coach having been left disappointed by the booing of club captain Iker Casillas during Saturday's Liga draw at home to Valencia.

"Everyone feels it when the fans whistle a player or a coach," the former Chelsea boss stated.

"Casillas has great amount of experience and is used to this kind of thing. It doesn't affect him; it motivates him even more, I think.

"But I think Wednesday it will be different. I think all the Madrid fans understand when it's an important game.

"Many times in the past they've really got behind us, like against Atletico [Madrid in the quarter-finals] and last year in the semi-finals [against Bayern Munich]. I'm sure they'll get behind us again."

Ancelotti is also of the opinion that Casillas will remain at Madrid this summer, despite being made a scapegoat by certain sections of the Bernabeu crowd.

“I think Casillas has reiterated many times he wants to stay," he added. "He has the confidence of us all: me, his team-mates and the club.

"He is a guarantee for us. But everyone has to make their personal decisions."

Former Ghana coach Attuquayefio passes on

The former African Coach of the Year died on Tuesday morning in Accra after battling a long illness

Black Stars of Ghana at 2013 Afcon

Former Ghana international and coach Sir Cecil Jones Attuquayefio passed away on Tuesday morning at the Korle Bu Hospital in Accra after suffering from a ‘troublesome’ throat cancer. He was 70.

He had been battling with the illness for four years after quitting his position as technical director of Liberty Professionals in 2011.

Attuquayefio started his football career as a defender with Ghana Academicals in 1962 before joining capital-based clubs Accra Standfast, Real Republicans and ‘Wonder club’ Great Olympics winning the 1970 league title with the latter.

Ghana Captain Asamoah Gyan expressed his shock after hearing the news but hailed him as the first coach to show him the light on international stage.

 "Sad day. My great coach and inspirer. He handed me my first chance. Rest in Peace Sir Cecil Jones Attuquayefio," Gyan tweeted.

Attuquayefio hung his boots in 1974 and started his coaching career with Great Olympics in the same year before having stints with Okwawu United, Stade Abidjan, Ashantigold,Liberty and Hearts of Oak.

In 1985, he was named as the assistant coach of Ghana national team and later became head coach on several occasions. Attuquayefio led Ghana’s U-17 side to win bronze at the World U-17 championship in New Zealand, after winning the African edition with key players like Michael Essien and Don Bortey.

Attuquayefio won the inaugural form of the professional Ghana Premier League with Ashantigold in 1994 but rose to fame in 2000 when he led Hearts to beat Tunisian giants Esperance to clinch the Caf Champions League and subsequently won the Super Cup over Zamalek.

He was adjudged the best coach in Africa that season by the Confederation of African Football after his heroics with Hearts. He returned in 2004 and won the maiden edition of the Caf Confederation Cup over archrivals Kumasi Asante Kotoko but lost the Super Cup to Enyimba in Nigeria. He won four league titles with the Phobians.

Attuquayefio became the first coach to qualify Benin to their maiden participation in the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations held in Tunisia.

Hearts of Oak honoured Attuquayefio as the club’s coach of the century in 2009.

Apart from coaching after his football career, he became the secretary of the Ghana Football Association when Ghana won their last Afcon title in 1982 and later became the vice president of the association.

Fabregas: I'd score Chelsea's season a 7 or 8 out of 10

The midfielder won the Premier League for the first time in his career but admits the club's elimination in the Champions League has been the biggest negative

Cesc Fabregas says he would give Chelsea's Premier League-winning campaign a "seven or eight" out of 10.

Jose Mourinho’s men eased to their first title victory in five years earlier this month, while the west London club also saw off Tottenham in the League Cup final in March.

However, Fabregas, who has now won the Premier League for the first time in his career, admits the biggest negative was Chelsea’s elimination to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last-16.

"If I have to give it [our season] a score, I'd give a seven or eight. It has been a great season, winning two trophies," the midfielder told Spanish radio station Cope.

"The only blow you can think about was the tie against Paris Saint-Germain. We were solid, consistent and we have competed very well, but that second leg is the negative thing I most remember from the season.

"I believe we should've done better, but it's a young team. The manager is building a new team based on the Chelsea of the past and I think that in the next few years we will be better."

Fabregas is now two behind Thierry Henry’s record of 20 Premier League assists in a single season and the Spaniard admits that he is keen to surpass his former Arsenal team-mate with two games remaining.

"I told [Eden] Hazard I'll pass you the ball, and you shoot every time [against Liverpool]," said the 28-year-old. "In any case, I'm happy to have beaten my personal record of 17."

Guardiola: I don't care about being the best

The coach says it's "rubbish" to suggest he is even slightly concerned with being considered "the best coach in the world"

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola insists he doesn't care one bit whether people regard him as the best in the world so long as his team is successful.

The 44-year-old is widely considered to be one of the game's finest coaches after guiding Barcelona to 14 trophies during his four seasons in charge at Camp Nou.

He has enjoyed further success since taking over at Bayern in 2013, having won back-to-back Bundesliga titles and the DFB-Pokal last season.

However, he has been criticised of late after overseeing a run of four straight defeats, including the 3-0 loss to Barcelona in the first leg of his side's Champions League semi-final.

But ahead of Tuesday's second leg, Guardiola made it clear that he had no interest in enhancing his own reputation.

"I'm not here to be considered the best coach in the world. That's a load of rubbish," Guardiola said at a press conference.

"I'm happy here and I want to help this team. I gave my best at Barcelona and I'm doing the same now.

"If that's not good enough for the fans, the journalists and the former players turned journalists, then I'm sorry. But I'm doing my best."

Guardiola has been tipped to replace Manuel Pellegrini as Manchester City coach this summer, but said on Monday that he would see out the final year of his contract with Bayern next season.

Under Construction: Keshi's Super Eagles rebuild needs to begin in earnest

Public opinion on Keshi remains split, but if he is to win the fans over, he must rebuild the national team with better quality than in his first spell

While Stephen Keshi has inked a new contract to helm the Super Eagles till 2017, the jury remains out on whether or not his first tenure was a success.

In a way, this is very much a subjective debate based on ideology: results vs. aesthetics. Did Keshi’s team consistently produce good performances? No. However, he was in charge for 68 games and lost under 25 per cent – they undeniably won more than they lost.

So really, it all comes down to what kind of football you prefer.

However, there is another way to look at it, which is infinitely more scientific and easier to agree upon. That is the mandate, in terms of touchstones, given to him by the NFF when he was first appointed in 2011.

He was tasked with qualifying for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, achieving a Quarter-Final place at the World Cup, and the rather more nebulous brief of “rebuilding the team”.

To begin with, he greatly exceeded expectations on the first count, winning the Nations Cup in South Africa just a year after the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the previous edition. That left him with enough credit that, even if he fell just short of his World Cup target, he can still be considered as having delivered on the first two.

It is in the third responsibility that the lines begin to blur somewhat. There can be no denying that he oversaw quite a substantial overhauling of the Super Eagles, winning the Afcon with a squad vastly populated by debutants and youngsters – though players like Efe Ambrose and Emmanuel Emenike were brought into the setup by predecessor Samson Siasia. However, if the aim was to rebuild the team, there can be no justification for the state of the Super Eagles right now.

A cursory look at the starting XI for the Afcon 2013 semi-final against Mali, easily Keshi’s most convincing display, makes for bleak reading. Of the lot, none has improved appreciably; indeed only captain Vincent Enyeama has maintained the same level of excellence.

Tournament top-scorer Emmanuel Emenike has scored infrequently between feuding with his club fans in Turkey. The mercurial Victor Moses was only just starting to rediscover something approaching his best form on loan at Stoke before breaking down with injury. The watertight pair of Godfrey Oboabona and Kenneth Omeruo have struggled for game time in middling teams since then.

Shall I continue? We could do this all day.

There is of course very little a national team manager can do about player performance with their clubsides. But if the aphorism is true, and class is a mean that the very best players will return to following dips in form, what does that say about the team that Keshi built?

It hurts to admit it, so let us say it all together now, group therapy-style: they were not very good at all.

To borrow a construction metaphor, tasked with a rebuild, the Big Boss went with easily obtainable raw materials rather than top-quality, durable ones. The result was a building made ready in record quick time, as evidenced by that triumph in Johannesburg, but which failed to stand by the strength which its individual components supplied.

Dearth | Recent failures prove there is a lack of quality in the Super Eagles

In other words, the team reverted to its mean – mediocrity – crumbling under the weight of the expectation it was made to bear. The plaster started to flake, the walls started to crack, and down came the house, pillars and all.

The question this time around then is: what kind of building will the Big Boss give us now? Naturally, one must consider the pool available to Keshi, and perhaps the basis for his return is that it has been acknowledged he worked with what he had (whether he did enough to unearth what he needed rather than simply making do is another matter). Now, things are a lot more different. Samson Siasia has the beginnings of a good unit at U23 level, preparing for the All Africa Games in a couple of months, while the Flying Eagles will be prime for promotion after the U20 World Cup in New Zealand mext month.

Keshi has nothing more to prove as a coach, but the paradox is that the legacy of coaches, especially with a national team, is rarely just titles. Clemens Westerhof may have won the Nations Cup in 1994, but so did Otto Gloria fourteen years prior. The Dutchman, however, is venerated because he created a team whose influence dwarfed all others in Nigerian football history; six years after his departure, his indelible birthmark remained on the Super Eagles.

If Keshi is to cement his legacy, and elevate himself above Gloria and into Westerhof territory, he must demonstrate the sort of courage that has been sorely lacking since 2013, and get the materials for the rebuild right this time.

Kaka added to Brazil's Copa America squad

Although the Seleção named their 23-man party last week, seven further players have now been included

Brazil veteran Kaká and emerging talent Felipe Ânderson have been named as members of Dunga’s preliminary 30-man squad for the 2015 Copa América.

The Seleção actually announced their 23-man party last week, but have now added seven further names in line with Conmebol protocol.

Kaká, who missed out on the 2014 World Cup, has featured in two matches under Dunga, coming on as a substitute during the wins against Argentina and Japan last October.

He is joined in the party by 22-year-old Felipe Ânderson, who is yet to be capped by the national side but is regarded as one of their brightest young players. Corinthians defender Gil and Cruzeiro striker Leandro Damião have also been named, with goalkeeper Neto and midfield duo Fred and Rafael Alcântara completing the list.

Given that Brazil named their 23-man squad prior to adding the additional players, it appears unlikely that any of the seven will make the final cut unless one or more of the initial selected men are forced to drop out.

Brazil have been drawn in Group C for the tournament in Chile this summer, where they will face Colombia, Peru and Venezuela.

Players added to original 23-man Brazil squad: Neto (Fiorentina); Gil (Corinthians); Felipe Ânderson (Lazio), Fred (Shakhtar Donetsk), Rafael Alcântara (Barcelona), Kaká (Orlando City); Leandro Damião (Cruzeiro)

Quote of The Day.

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. –Maya Angelou

Nigeria, three others to form AU response force

President Idriss Derby of Chad on Monday said a multinational force consisting of Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Nigeria currently fighting the Boko Haram sect in the Lake Chad Basin will soon metamorphosise into what he called a Rapid Response Force.

The force, according to him, is being put together by the African Union to fight insurgency on the continent.

Derby disclosed this while speaking with State House correspondents shortly after meeting behind closed-doors with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said, “On the issue of Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin, there are four countries, Cameroon, Nigeria, Chad and Niger‎ that are currently securing the area.

“The four countries have managed to form a multinational mixed force that will metamorphosise to what is probably known as a Rapid Response Force that the African Union is trying to form for Africa.”

Derby also recanted on his earlier claim that he knew the whereabouts of the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau.

While calling on Shekau to surrender or face death, Derby had in March told a news conference in N’djamena, that he knew the whereabouts of the sect leader, who, according to him, was sighted in Dikwa, a village in Borno State two days earlier.

When asked about the current whereabouts of the sect leader, the Chadian President denied knowledge of such.
He also added that if he knew, he would not disclose the location to journalists.
‎”It is regrettable that the two armies, that is the Nigerian army and the Chadian Army are working separately on the field, they are not undertaking joint operation.
“If they were operating joint operation, probably they would have achieved more results.
“I cannot tell you today that I know where Shekau is hiding ‎and even if I knew, I won’t tell you,” he said.
When further asked to explain the relationship between the multinational task force fighting in Lake Chad and the South African mercenaries fighting with them, Derby simply said he had no information concerning mercenaries from South Africa.
On the purpose of his visit to Jonathan, the Chadian President said he was in Nigeria for consultation because the two countries have a lot of similarities in fighting insurgents.
He recalled that while Chad had its own problems in the 70s and 80s, Nigeria assisted the country during those difficult times.
He also said he was in Nigeria to congratulate Jonathan for the statesmanship he displayed during the last elections.
He added, “On the 2015 general elections, ‎I came principally to congratulate Mr. President for the statesmanship he demonstrated during the elections.
“We all know that elections in Africa is always contested but Mr. President demonstrated a lot of statesmanship, that he is a real democrat by conceding and congratulating the President-elect.
“You all know ‎that when Nigeria sneezes, the neighbouring countries catch cold.
“If Mr. President had not taken that laudable initiative, you all know what would have happened now. Nigeria is still living in peace, you all are living in peace and that would not have happened but for that laudable initiative he took.
“So I came to congratulate him for leaving a legacy not only for Nigeria but for Africa as a whole.
“As you all know, we both work together to fight ‎Boko Haram. I thought it was important that before Mr. President leaves office, I will come for us to have overview of what we did together, what we achieved together in the fight against Boko Haram.
“It is true Boko Haram has not been completely eradicated ‎but they have been tremendously weakened. I did not want to wait and come during the inauguration of the new government, I thought I should come to consult with Mr. President, to congratulate him and to have this exchange and have overview of what we have been able to achieve in the fight against Boko Haram.”

Ramsey: Too many bad eggs at QPR

The coach has echoed the thoughts of captain Joey Barton following their relegation, while defender Clint Hill feels a change in culture at Loftus Road is a must

Chris Ramsey has admitted he identifies with Joey Barton's claim that "bad eggs" derailed QPR's season.

A 6-0 mauling to Manchester City on Sunday confirmed QPR's relegation just one season after promotion via the Championship play-offs.

Facing a close-season of overhaul as QPR look to shift a number of high-earners off their wage bill, Ramsey echoed the thoughts of his skipper.

"I think if you go to any club there are going to be 'bad eggs' and those sort of people," Ramsey said. "What Joey probably alluded to is there are people who could have helped us who haven't helped us.

"Our fate is now where it is. But listen, there are lots of people at the club will be extremely disappointed in the way we conducted ourselves in the game.

"There are a lot of things I could say but I wouldn't want to put any bombs in place at this stage. Most of the stuff has been well-documented. At this stage it's for us to show a bit of dignity and class."

Meanwhile, Clint Hill feels QPR must use their relegation to force a change in culture at Loftus Road.

"It is devastating, everything we've done wrong all season happened in those 90 minutes against City," he said.

"At the end of the day we're not good enough and we've got to apologise our fans as a whole, for the whole season in not doing our objective of staying up, and try to regroup and build again.

"There is going to be a whole change, I think 15 or 16 players have their contract up at the end of the season, it’s a chance to rebuild. You need the right culture and characters at the club in the future."

S’Africa strike season looms after attacks on migrants

South Africa’s annual season of labour strikes often turns violent, but a recent wave of deadly xenophobic attacks has heightened fears that this year’s protests could fuel further aggression towards migrant workers.

Each winter, weeks of angry demonstrations erupt in cities across the country as employees down tools and flock into the streets during pay negotiations.

Employment is scarce in South Africa, and much of the frustration is targeted at migrant workers from elsewhere on the continent who locals accuse of stealing their jobs.

President Jacob Zuma himself has blamed last month’s xenophobic unrest on an unnamed employer in the eastern city of Durban who replaced South African workers with migrants.
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In the weeks that followed, at least seven people were killed as mobs hunted down migrants from Zimbabwe, Mozambique and other African countries, forcing hundreds of terrified families to abandon their homes and seek safety in camps.

The attacks “were sparked off by the conduct of an employer who fired South African workers who had gone on strike and employed workers from outside the country,” Zuma said.

“The employment of scab labour usually triggers an angry reaction from workers who are on strike.”

Zuma appealed for employers to avoid “pitting workers against one another,” in remarks likely to worsen industrial relations.

South African trade unions accuse employers of trying to dodge demands for better conditions by hiring foreign workers at lower wages.

“This is undermining labour standards,” Norman Mampane, spokesman of the country’s largest union federation, the Congress of South African Trade Union (Cosatu), told AFP.

“Cosatu has observed employers under-employing migrant workers — especially in the farming, retail and hospitality sectors.

“Unemployment should not be used as a disguise to attack fellow Africans,” he ad

Football icon Pele released from hospital after surgery

Brazilian football legend Pele was released from hospital Saturday following prostate surgery, doctors said, after his latest health scare.

Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo said the 74-year-old was discharged at 6:30 pm (2130 GMT). He was treated at the same facility last year for a severe urinary tract infection.

The only player to win three World Cup titles underwent four days of a surgical procedure known as a transurethral resection of the prostate, which is performed for enlargement of the prostate that causes difficulty urinating.
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Media reports said the surgery for an enlarged prostate — a common condition in aging men — was aimed at preventing a repeat of the urinary infection that sent Pele to the hospital last year.

The global sports icon has suffered a number of health crises in recent months.

He underwent surgery for kidney stones in November, and then came down with an infection that required treatment in a hospital intensive care unit for several days.

His one remaining kidney — the other was removed following a rib injury during his playing days — stopped working and had to be treated with dialysis.

He was also operated on the femur in November 2012.

Pele was named Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee in 1999.

The athlete, whose real name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, is widely regarded as the greatest football player of all time.

Experts urge Buhari to address power problem

The incoming government of President-elect Muhammadu Buhari has been called upon to address the issue of poor power supply in the country.

At the recently held Lagos Business School’s Centre for Infrastructure, Policy, Regulation and Advancement and the Heinrich Boll Foundation’s forum on Nigeria’s energy future, various experts said much needed to be done to get the power and energy sector out of the doldrums.

According to Dr. Ijeoma Nwagwu of the CIPRA, little or no discussions have been held on how to permanently solve the energy problem in the country.
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Nwagwu noted that detailed concepts and policies for the required increase in electricity supply had hardly been discussed in public, even during the recent election campaigns.

She added, “If it is to make gains on its commitment to create jobs, address insecurity and corruption in Nigeria, the new government must deal with the reality that 80 per cent of Nigerians lack stable power supply and two-thirds of Africans, mainly in the rural areas, live without electricity.

“This time of transition is the perfect opportunity for renewed, hopeful and strategic focus on energy poverty in Nigeria.”

The keynote speaker and climate expert, Hans Verolme, in his keynote address, emphasised the role of energy as being the potential backbone of Nigeria’s economic, social and environmental development.

Verolme stated that the country needed to work on its carbon dioxide emission reductions and its energy options. He identified hydro and gas as having the highest potential to ensure clean, reliable and affordable energy for Nigeria.

Also speaking at the forum, the HBF Director, K. Christine, said it was vital for the country to carefully consider its options because any decision reached by the government would likely have far-reaching effects.

“Most Nigerian experts favour an expansion of the national grid, fed by power from fossil fuels such as oil and gas. Given that the infrastructural choices takentoday will lock Nigeria onto a certain energy pathway for the next 30 to 50 years, a wider discussion of the implications of these infrastructural choices is necessary,”

Explosion rocks nuclear power plant in New York

A large explosion has rocked the Indian Point 
nuclear plant in upstate New York, the facility’s management reported.

Entergy Corporation, the company running the plant, said the affected parts of the facility were “safely shut down” and in “safe and stable condition” after a transformer failure on Saturday.

An Entergy spokesman told Reuters news agency that a fire in the transformer had been extinguished and that there was no damage to the reactor.

The fire, which occurred at around 2200 GMT, triggered the closure of the plant’s Unit 3 reactor, but the other Unit 2 continues to operate, Jerry Nappi said.
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He said there was no information yet as to what caused the transformer failure. The fire was put out by the sprinkler system at the transformer and on-site personnel, Nappi said.

The transformers are located around 90-120 meters away from the reactor.

Indian Point Energy Center is a three-unit nuclear power plant located in Buchanan, New York just south of Peekskill. The plant on the east bank of the Hudson river is located 61km north of New York City.

Residents in the vicinity of the plant reported the explosion and said they saw a 200m high fire ball over facility.

WENGER: CHEALSEA'S LACK OF FEAR MADE THEM DOMINANT

 The blues' consistency has been noted by Arsenals boss as part of why league rivals have been unable to catch the newly crowned champion.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says that Chelsea's fearlessness is behind their Premier League success this season.

The Blues confirmed their title glory earlier in May, having lost only two games all season, with the Gunners some way behind among the chasing pack.

Wenger's men could yet secure second place, however, after a magnificent run of form in 2015, with the Frenchman arguing that they are developing the kind of winning mentality that could stand them in good stead next term.

"The real luxury in this job is not to have a fear to lose," the Arsenal boss told reporters. "Once a team has confidence and thinks they can turn up, play and we will win the game, they become different players. I do not overrate that.

"You want to see a team respond under pressure and I think since January we have done that well.

“The problem we had this season is Chelsea had no real blip. They have lost only two games.

"In a normal championship I think we would have come back into the race. Chelsea lost only two games and, in games like when they won at Hull City and QPR, they were not at their best but could still manage a win.

"These are the kind of wins you have when you smell you are close to winning it."

Klopp: I should've announced Dortmund exit at start of season!

Following their fourth win in the five matches since he had announced he would be leaving Signal Iduna Park, the coach joked he wishes he had spoken out sooner
jurgen Klopp has joked that he should have declared his intention to step down as Borussia Dortmund boss last year as their excellent form continued with a 2-0 win over Hertha Berlin on Saturday.

BVB have won four of their five games since April 15 - including a DFB-Pokal semi-final against Bayern Munich - when Klopp revealed to the world he would be ending his spell at Signal Iduna Park this summer after seven years at the club's helm.

Saturday's win left them two points from a Europa League qualification spot with two games to go and Klopp saw the funny side to how Dortmund have recovered from a calamitous first-half to 2015-16.

"If I had known this form would come about, I would've announced my resignation at the start of the season!" the coach told reporters.

Neven Subotic headed Dortmund into the lead in the German capital nine minutes in and young defender Erik Durm gave them some breathing room with a curled effort on the edge of the 18-yard box.

"I am happy with the result but, in particular, I'm happy with the performance," the trainer added. "We scored two great goals and in between those goals were like 70 counterattacks that didn't result in goals.

"Going forward we have a positive outlook, which is really great. Seventh place feels like the place in the sun compared to where we were placed at some points this season."

Dortmund were bottom of the Bundesliga shortly after the season recommenced following the winter break but completely turned around their faltering form and are en route to a European finish if they can win their final two league matches.

Although only fifth and sixth typically get Europa League spots, Dortmund and Wolfsburg are the teams to have reached the DFB-Pokal final. As the latter club are guaranteed a Champions League berth it means that BVB would currently still get continental football in 2015-16 even if they lose the cup clash if they stay at least seventh.

Quote of the day

Once you bring life into the world, you must protect it. We must protect it by changing the world.

Elie Wiesel

Ekiti NMA begins strike to protest doctor, nurse’s kidnap

Nigerian Medical Association has declared an indefinite strike to protest the kidnap of a former Chief Medical Director of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Patrick Adegun, and a Nurse with the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti, Mrs Margaret Aladeneka.

The association declared this in a letter to Governor Ayodele Fayose by the Ekiti NMA Chairman, Dr. John Akinbote, and the Secretary, Dr. A. A. Akinyele, where they frowned on the serial kidnap of health workers in the state.

Adegun and his wife, Kikelomo, were kidnapped at about 8pm near their residence at Oke Ila in the state capital on Thursday.

Their kidnap came five days after Aladeneka was abducted, while a yet-to-be-identified man was killed during the operation. There has yet to be communication from the abductors.

According to a copy of the letter sighted by our correspondent on Saturday, the NMA said it arrived at the decision to withdraw all clinical services in Ekiti State at an Emergency General Meeting held on Friday in Ado Ekiti.

“As a result of the above development, the house unanimously resolved to withdraw all clinical services in Ekiti State until the safety of our members can be guaranteed,” the letter stated.

The NMA had earlier raised the alarm over incessant harassment and attacks of doctors and other health workers in the state calling on the State Government and Law Enforcement Agencies to curtail the incidents.

It also called on the government to expedite action on the implementation of the adjusted revised Consolidated Medical Salary Scale Circular issued by the Federal Government since January 1, 2014.

The Special Assistant to Governor Ayodele Fayose on Information, Mr Lanre Ogunsuyi, has, however, expressed worry about the situation.

He appealed to the doctors to shelve their resolve to suspend work, saying such step wouldn’t be in the interest of the state, particularly for those with critical ailments.

Ogunsuyi said, “Police and State Government will make Ekiti secured for health workers and every worker in the State. We will put in place good measures for people to be able to move without hindrance.

“We urged them to go back to work because suspending work in the hospital will aggravate the problem .But we are going to keep our strategy to ourselves for security reason. We will hold consultations with the doctors to know what their fears are and how to fashion out ways of providing security.

“To us as a government, every kidnap is criminal and condemnable. We are working with the commissioner of Police to tame criminalities in Ekiti State. The governor will hold consultations with all relevant stakeholders to tame all these problems one and for all.”

Garcia: Don't make Totti a scapegoat for Roma's problems

Gervinho has been quoted as saying that the veteran attacker "no longer makes assists" but the Giallorossi coach has leapt to the defence of his captain

boss Rudi Garcia has pleaded for Francesco Totti to be left "in peace" and not be made "a scapegoat" for the team's slump during the second half of the season.
The Giallorossi suffered a dramatic dip in form after the turn of the year that saw them go from challenging Juventus for top spot in Serie A to battling it out with city rivals Lazio for second place.
Roma have now moved back ahead of the Biancocelesti thanks to back-to-back wins over Genoa and Sassuolo - two games for which Totti was left on the bench.
Gervinho added further spice to the debate over whether the Giallorossi are a better side without their club captain by stating that Totti "no longer makes assists".
However, Garcia, speaking on the eve of Roma's trip to AC Milan, has pleaded for an end to the discourse.
"Firstly, I think [Gervinho] was joking," the French coach told reporters on Friday. "But in any case, we have to leave the captain alone and not make him a scapegoat.
"He has always given everything for the good of Rome.
"Leave Totti in peace. He’s a great player and makes headlines every single week. He’s an important player for us.
"He may start, he may come off the bench – the only thing that counts is winning in Milan."
Garcia also requested an end to speculation over whether Radja Nainggolan will sign a new contract with the club.
"Every player is important and no player is more important than any other in my eyes," the former Lille boss added.
"We don’t have time to get distracted; we need to keep our concentration up.
"Nobody should be thinking about their own personal situation.
"It’s not the time to be speaking about the transfer market or next season’s squad, we just need to focus on the field of play."
Second-placed Roma are just one point ahead of Lazio, who host Inter at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday.

Swansea welcome back 'fit and sharp' Gomis for Arsenal trip

The striker, who scored the winner over the Gunners in November, has recovered from a hamstring injury for the Monday game but Nelson Oliveira has been ruled out

Swansea City manager Garry Monk says Bafetimbi Gomis is "fit and sharp" to face Arsenal following injury.

The 29-year-old scored the winner as the Swans came from behind to beat the Gunners 2-1 at the Liberty Stadium in November, but has not featured since limping out of the 1-1 draw against Everton a month ago.
However, Gomis has shaken off his hamstring problem and is set for a return when Swansea head to the Emirates Stadium on Monday, with Nelson Oliveira set to miss the rest of the season due an ankle injury.
"Nelson is unlikely to be fit for any of the remaining games," Monk told reporters. "It's disappointing for us and for him because he's done well in recent weeks. Bafe returns, which is a big boost for everyone.
"He was in fanatastic form in the lead up to that injury. He looks fit and sharp and his return will give us a boost."
Swansea have not lost a Premier League fixture at Arsenal since September 2011, picking up a 2-2 draw in London last season.

Fayose preaches peace as gunmen abduct ex-medical director, wife

Kidnappers again struck in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, abducting a former Chief Medical Director of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Patrick Adegun, and his wife, Kikelomo.

The duo were kidnapped five days after a senior nurse with the Federal Medical Centre, Ido Ekiti, Mrs Margaret Aladeneka, was abducted while a yet-to-be-identified man was killed during the operation.

Adegun and his wife were kidnapped at about 8pm near their residence at the Oke Ila area in the state capital.

The CMD of EKSUTH, Dr. Kolawole Ogundipe, in a statement said nothing had been heard about the whereabouts of the couple.

“The management therefore appeals to the security agencies to assist in facilitating their release as this development is already having devastating effect on the teaching hospital,” Ogundipe said.

A source said the medical practitioner had earlier attended a wake keep at Nova Primary School, GRA in Ado Ekiti and left the place in his Toyota Avensis before picking his wife on the way.

“On getting home, they saw that the gate had been blocked with another car. And as they were making efforts to call the driver to order, they were rough handled and cramped into the car and drove away speedily. Though, they didn’t take the victim’s car away,” the source added.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria in Ekiti, Dr Olusola Aduloju, who lamented the insecurity of healthworkers in the state, ordered members to withdraw their services until Adegun was found.

“We are taking this step so that the government can provide security for us. We are tired of this situation and we have ordered our men in EKSUTH to withdraw their services until our member and his wife are found.” Aduloju said.

The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Ekiti State Council, has also called on the government and other security agencies to come to the aid of their members, alleging that its members had been assaulted, harassed and intimidated by some hoodlums.

Speaking in Ado Ekiti on Friday, the chairperson of the association, Mrs. Adewumi Bade-Gboyega, explained that two cases of assaults and two adoption cases had been reported to the Police through the association.

Bade-Gboyega said their members had been battered, assaulted, harassed and intimidated by patient relatives in recent time.

According to her, a nurse, Folaranmi Oluyemi, was beaten by a patient’s relative while on duty at Efon Alaaye General Hospital on April 15.

She added, “Similar case was also recorded at the State Specialist Hospital in Ikere-Ekiti.

“Having reported the case formally to the security agents, we therefore request a full investigation into the cases and appropriate legal action taken against the perpetrators.”

Nasri's season ended by injury

The Frenchman will miss Manchester City's final three games after suffering a groin problem against Tottenham, but club captain Vincent Kompany is ready to return

Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri will be sidelined for the rest of the season through injury.

The Frenchman was forced off with a groin problem during last weekend's 1-0 Premier League win at Tottenham, leaving the field shortly after being introduced as a 73rd-minute substitute.

"We have the complete squad working except for Nasri, who has a muscle injury," City boss Manuel Pellegrini told reporters on Friday. "He will be out from now to the end of the season."

City could, though, welcome back captain Vincent Kompany, who has been absent since last month's Manchester derby with a thigh issue.

"Vincent is always an important player for us," added Pellegrini. "He is coming back from a muscle injury.

"It is important for him to recover his normal performance. We will see what will happen from now until the end of the season."

City host QPR on Sunday as they continue their bid to claim second behind champions Chelsea.

Inter fined €6m for Financial Fair Play breach

The Serie A club, along with nine other European sides, have agreed to sanctions for failing to adhere to economic guidelines

Inter have been fined €6 million for breaching Financial Fair Play regulations and could pay a further €14m if they earn that sum in European competition over the next three seasons.

The Serie A club, along with nine other teams, were under investigation over their non-compliance with break-even rules enforced by the governing body and now face a list of sanctions.

Should they qualify for Europe this season, Inter will only be allowed to register 21 players for the 2015-16 campaign, rather than the usual maximum 25-man squad, with that number rising to 22 the season after.

The limit will be lifted in 2017-18 if the Nerazzurri comply with regulations, which include reporting a break-even deficit of €30m for the financial year ending 2016.

Also facing punishment are another Italian club, Roma, who will pay a €2m fine, and potentially an additional €4m if they flout guidelines again over the next three seasons.

Like Inter, the Giallorossi's European squad will also be trimmed, with their A-list restricted to 22 players next season, though that restriction will be lifted in 2016-17 if their finances are brought in line.

The number of new registrations allowed on the club's A-list is capped as well, dependant on their net transfer position in each window.e Serie A club, along with nine other European sides, have agreed to sanctions for failing to adhere to economic guideline

Inter have been fined €6 million for breaching Financial Fair Play regulations and could pay a further €14m if they earn that sum in European competition over the next three seasons.

The Serie A club, along with nine other teams, were under investigation over their non-compliance with break-even rules enforced by the governing body and now face a list of sanctions.

Quote of the day

Fortune knocks but once, but misfortune has much more patience.

Laurence J. Peter

liverpool star sturridge ruled out till september..

liverpool star sturrigde ruled out till september

The striker is out of action after hip surgery and will now miss the start of next season after a series of injuries over the course of the current campaign

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has confirmed Daniel Sturridge could be out of action until September after hip surgery.

Sturridge announced on Tuesday that he had undergone a successful procedure on his hip after an injury-hit season.

"Just want to let the world know I've had a successful operation on my hip today and I want to thank God for allowing that to be possible," he wrote on his Intagram page. "Onwards and upwards from here. Thanks for the support."

And Rodgers has now confirmed Sturridge will miss the start of next season as he steps up his recovery from surgery.

"We anticipate he'll be back to train around September and then it's about getting his fitness," Rodgers told reporters.

He added: "We are hopeful issues he's had have been resolved."

Sturridge scored 24 goals in all competitions last season as Liverpool narrowly missed out on the Premier League title.

But this season, the England international has managed just 18 appearances and five goals, with Rodgers's side currently set to miss out on next season's Champions League.

Terry takes swipe at Benitez after title triumph

The 34-year-old has been an ever-present for
Chelsea this year as Jose Mourinho guided the
Blues to their fifth top-flight title, thanks to Sunday's
victory over Crystal Palace
Chelsea captain John Terry has hit out at former Blues
manager Rafa Benitez in the wake of the club's Premier
League title win.
Eden Hazard's goal gave Jose Mourinho's side a 1-0 win
over Crystal Palace on Sunday, and secured the title with
three games remaining.
Terry has been an ever-present in the Premier League this
campaign, and has featured in 45 games for the Blues in all
competitions. It is a stark contrast to his year under
Benitez, where he played just 28 games for Chelsea.
Referencing a comment the Spaniard made during his time
at Stamford Bridge in 2013, Terry said: "Unbelievable, we
worked so hard to get here. to get over the line was a tough
match but bottom line is we’re champions.
"One person said I couldn't play twice in a week and knows
who he is. Not only have I proved everyone wrong I’m still
fighting, still feeling great, more importantly I’ve got great
players and great management around me.
"This is what I live for, I was a ballboy, mascot, I’ve played
in the stadium, I’ve done everything. To be here and give th
fans something...
"The first one was very special obviously but when you wait
five years without winning it and you see teams [win it] and
you’ve grafted it really hurts, so we’re going to enjoy today

Wenger: Arsenal don’t need big changes this summer

The manager says the recent form of Mesut Ozil
and David Ospina plus the imminent return of Lukas
Podolski, Joel Campell & Yaya Sanogo proves the
club have a strong squad already
Arsene Wenger does not believe that Arsenal need big
changes this summer as his players have proved this
season that the Gunners have a strong squad.
The north Londoners take on Hull City on Monday having
lost just once in their last 13 games, a run that has seen
them surge into third place in the Premier League and
secure an FA Cup final spot.
Summer signing Alexis Sanchez has been key to Arsenal's
form this season, top scoring with 22 goals so far, while
Mesut Ozil's return from injury has also given the Gunners a
boost.
Indeed, when asked by reporters how his side's recent form
had changed his plans with regards summer transfer
activity, Wenger replied: "Massive changes.
"Massive because I believe that some players who were
questioned, like Mesut Ozil, have made big improvements in
the second part of the season and becomes slowly the
leader you want him to be in guiding our game.
"We are not in need of absolute change. We have a strong
squad. We have some strong young players behind.
"We have a big squad now - Lukas Podolski, Joel Campbell,
Yaya Sanogo [all on loan] will come back. If you add that to
the number of players [we already have]."
Arsenal have been linked with a move for Petr Cech in
recent weeks but Wenger insists that he is happy with the
goalkeeping options currently at his disposal.
"I believe in the keepers I have. I believe that Wojciech
Szczesny is a very good goalkeeper and David Ospina has
come in and done a fantastic job," he enthused.
"You look at the numbers in the Premier League and you
look at who is top of all the goalkeepers, and you will see
it's Ospina."

quote of The Day

Words may be false and full of art; Sighs are the natural language of the heart.

Thomas Shadwell

Quote of the day

We may give without loving, but we cannot love without giving.
Bernard Meltzer

We must question sources of rich Nigerians’ wealth –Osinbajo

The Vice-President-elect, Prof.Yemi Osinbajo, on Friday explained how the Muhammadu Buhari administration would prosecute the anti-graft war, saying that Nigerians must question sources of wealth of the rich.

Osinbajo, while delivering the keynote address at the Abuja edition of The Platform, said the incoming administration would ensure zero tolerance for corruption by reforming the Justice system.

He said within the last few years, what the country had experienced was a situation where people got away with corrupt practices, noting that going forward; the incoming government would make sure that corrupt people suffer the consequences of their actions.

He said when people are made to suffer the consequences of corrupt practices; it would send a strong message to everyone that the era of looting of the treasury was over.

He said, “We have always talked about zero tolerance for corruption but it is also important that people are made to understand that there will be consequence for corruption.

“What we have seen so far is that there is hardly any consequence and people simply get away with it and if you get away with it often, it sends a message to everyone that there is no problem, and we need to fix that whole thinking that there has to be a consequence for corrupt practices.

“People have to explain, for instance, if you are a public servant, that how come you have 50 houses. Somebody needs to ask you those questions and some of the reasons people get away with that is our criminal justice system.”

He said in view of the fact that the incoming administration would be taking the fight against corruption seriously, one of the reforms that would first be carried out is in the judicial system.

The Vice-President- elect said the nation’s judicial system as presently constituted was slow, adding that this had made it easy for people to get away with criminal acts.

He said, “Our criminal justice system needs to be fixed. The system is slow and it almost always ensures that people who have been charged with offenses would not be tried forever and after a while people forget that people are on trial.

“We have to fix that criminal justice system to ensure that criminal trials are speedy and that anyone who is guilty of an offense will be punished for that offense.

“So there are so many initiatives around what we need to do in that area. The United States has 300 million people and they have 2.2 million people in jail. We have 170 million people and we have convicted people of just 12,000.

“Now if you add those awaiting trials, it comes to about 50,000 but actual convicted people are just 12,000. Truly it shows you that there is a failure somewhere of our criminal justice system, practically every one of us knows somebody who has stolen something.

“The truth is that the system of protection, investigation and trial of people is wrong and the truth is that everybody gets away with criminality in Nigeria and I think there is a need for us to review the system such that it begins to work.”

In the area of policing, Osinbajo said a country as big as that of Nigeria needed community policing.

He said it would be difficult for the Nigerian Police Force in its present form to fight crime in an effective manner owing to what he described as structural problems.

He said, “We need to look at law and order. The question of policing our society, how do we police this country? At the moment we know that policing is ineffective.

“If the police want to deal with the criminals, you and I know that they are hampered from doing so, they are hampered structurally, they are hampered by the fact that they are not as well equipped as they ought to be, and they are not resourced as they ought to be but the structural problem is the major one.

“A country of this size needs some form of community policing because criminality is always local, we need to have policemen who understand the local language, who live in the local community, who understand the language. So there is logic in it to have community policing.”

The event powered by Covenant Christian Centre had the theme: “Business and governance.”
Source: punchng.Com

Covenant University deploys card readers for examination

In a manner similar to that of the Independent National Electoral Commission, the management of Covenant University, said it had deployed biometrics devices, otherwise known as smart card readers, for the conduct of its on-going examination.

The university has been recognised for its engagement of technology in its activities and has been awarded the “Best ICT-driven University” in Nigeria and West Africa.

The Director, Centre for Systems and Information Services of the university, Pastor Abolade Afolabi, explained that the introduction of the smart card readers was to solve the challenge of students having to go through the rigour of printing out their Course Evaluation Forms in order to sit for examination. Another reason, according to him, is to forestall any form of examination malpractice.

INEC deployed a similar technology in the recently concluded general elections.

Prior to the introduction of the card reader for the examination, students were expected to complete their course registration and clearance on the portal and print out the evaluation form. The forms were presented to invigilators at the examination venue before they were eligible to write the exam.

Afolabi further explained that “the card readers use a highly secured cryptographic technology that is commonly used for devices that perform secure transactions, such as payment terminals. The devices contain Green List, that is, names of students who have been evaluated for a particular course and are eligible to take the examination.”

The University’s Director of Academic Planning Unit, Dr. Akan Williams, also claimed that with the introduction of the card readers, examination malpractice had been curtailed to a large extent. Though the use of the device was not without some initial challenges, Williams stated that they had recorded up to 90 per cent success.

Source: punchng. Com