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International Football

ARGENTINE PUBLICATION HIGHLIGHTS, ORODE, NIGERIAN PLAYER IN ARGENTINA

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Olé, a publication in Argentina has highlighted Felix Orode, a Nigerian player featuring in the domestic league. It began with a question lead: “Did you know that there is a Nigerian who plays here has chances to face the National Team (Argentina) in the World Cup?  The Nigerian who had his debut in the Argentine league under Coach Diego Simeone now features for Defensores de Pronunciamiento.

“My wife already tells me that Nigeria-Argentina is just another classic,” Orode joked with Olé. According to information at the disposal of www.sportsvillagesquare , Orode had a tough time adapting to customs and language in Argentina when he made his debut in San Lorenzo in 2009.  According to Olé, Orode’s career is taking a new turn since last year when the Super Eagles began to follow him.  “Yes, gentlemen: Felix could be Messi’s rival!” remarked Olé.  The highlight of the interview translated from Spanish runs:

  • What did you think when you saw that Argentina will face Nigeria in the group phase?

 

FELIX ORODE:  (smiles) I was looking at the drawing at home and, as soon as it came out, my wife said: “Again with you, we are a classic.” It’s going to be a nice game. It is a difficult group, where anyone can beat anyone…

 

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  • Your children Simona (almost two years) and Salvador (two), do you explain that his mother is Argentina and his father is Nigerian?

Yes, I taught them the two flags and I tell them whenever they have two countries. I feel the same way. I’m even doing Argentina citizenship and I want to make them Nigerian. I hope that someday we can travel all four, I want my mom to meet her grandchildren…

 

  • There is talk that you have a chance to go to the World Cup. Can you imagine yourself in Russia?

It’s my big dream! It all came up when in Sportivo barracks I was given the ticket to go visit my family. When we arrived in Nigeria they found out that I was playing in Argentina and they started following me. They asked the club to send my videos and now we’re in touch. I know it’s hard, but with God everything is possible.

·         Do you know the players of the national team?A few. I talk a lot with Moses Simon: with him I shared a squad in the Under 20, where I played in 2007. He told me many things and hopefully we can share the team again. ·         You already thought about changing the shirt with Messi if it touches you?It would be incredible, but I do not know if it would cheer me up. I always look at Barcelona for him, I admire him a lot. There are not many like him, a Messi pass is a goal. ·         What does your family say to you in Nigeria?My family is very happy, they call me every day and they tell me what is said about me in the media there. The only problem is that I am unaccustomed to the language and sometimes I mix Spanish with English and my mother challenges me because she does not understand me, heh.

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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International Football

Two Moroccan football players lost at sea, says club official

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Abdellatif Akhrif, IRT player reported missing off the coast of M'diq this Saturday, July 6, 2024. © COPYRIGHT: IRT

Two Moroccan players from top-flight soccer side Ittihad Tanger have been missing at sea since Saturday after strong currents drifted their small yacht, a club official said on Sunday.

They were in a group of five players from the club who went cruising off the northern city of Tangier when strong currents and heavy winds drifted their yacht away as they were swimming in deep waters, club deputy president Anass Mrabet told Reuters.

“Three players have already been rescued on Saturday, while research is still ongoing for the missing Salman Harraq and Abdellatif Akhrif,” he said.

The players did not have buoys on them when they jumped from the small yacht to swim, he said citing recounts by rescued players.

While Akhrif, 24, is already a full member of the squad, Harraq, 18, was about to move up to the senior team this year, Mrabet added.

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Ittihad Tanger have been in the Moroccan top flight since 2015 and won the league title for the first and only time in their history in the 2017-18 season. However, they have struggled in the lower half of the standings in recent years.

-Reuters

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International Football

FIFA launches ‘Football Manager’ World Cup with $100,000 in prize money

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FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development and former soccer manager Arsene Wenger speaks during the 74th FIFA Congress at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, in Bangkok, Thailand, May 17, 2024. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File Photo

FIFA will host its first ever FIFAe World Cup of Football Manager this year to crown the best virtual manager on the highly-popular video game, world soccer’s governing body said on Thursday.

FIFA is partnering with Sports Interactive, the developers of the game that has sold millions of copies and has also been used by several football clubs to scout players and opponents thanks to its extensive database.

Players will compete for $100,000 in prize money in the final event from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1.

“This competition requires participants to demonstrate a profound understanding of football strategy and tactics,” said former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is the ambassador for the esports event.

“Success demands not only mastery of game mechanics but also in-depth football knowledge, making this format a fascinating blend.”

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FIFA said in the inaugural year of the event, selected member associations will be invited to be represented at the final event.

Member associations from all six confederations are expected to be invited while players can sign up on FIFA’s website.

-Reuters

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Former Italy international Roberto Baggio robbed at gunpoint

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Former Italy international Roberto Baggio was assaulted and robbed at gunpoint at his home in northern Italy while watching his country’s match against Spain in the Euro 2024 tournament on Thursday, local police said.

Burglars broke into Baggio’s house near Vicenza, hit him on the head with a gun butt and locked him and his family in a room while they stole jewellery, watches and cash, daily Il Corriere della Sera reported. It said he suffered a deep wound.

“Luckily, the violence I suffered only resulted in a few stitches, bruises and a lot of fear. Now it is to overcome the fear,” Baggio was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA.

Baggio, 57, played for clubs including Juventus (JUVE.MI), opens new tab, AC Milan and Inter Milan. He also played 56 times for Italy, scoring 27 goals, and is widely seen as one of his country’s all-time greats.

After the robbery, Baggio, widely known as the “divine ponytail”, was treated at a local hospital where he received stitches for the head wound, Italian media reported.

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Italy lost to Spain 1-0 on Thursday and now must avoid defeat by Croatia to guarantee progression in the tournament.

-Reuters

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