Premier League
VIDEO: MANCHESTER UNITED’S ANGEL GOMES EXPLAINS HIS VISIT TO PROPHET JOSHUA
Video footage has emerged of Manchester United youngster Angel Gomes visiting a controversial Nigerian prophet to heal him of injury troubles four years ago.
Gomes was 16 and in United’s academy when he attended T.B. Joshua’s Synagogue Church of All Nations in the Nigerian capital of Lagos in 2016.
He has since made 10 first-team appearances for United and is reportedly close to agreeing a new £25,000-a-week contract at Old Trafford.
Gomes responded to the video on his Twitter account, explaining the reasons behind his visit.
In the video, Gomes stands in front of a large congregation at the church and explains how problems with hip, groin and ankle injuries had kept him sidelined.
The video then shows T.B. Joshua, one of Africa’s best-known preachers, apparently performing a healing ritual on the teenager.
The devoted followers of Joshua, whose services are broadcast on television, believe holy water can cure HIV and tuberculosis. Joshua himself was estimated to have a fortune of $10million in 2011.
But his critics say the televangelist actually prevents efforts to cure such diseases and illnesses.
In the video, from the church’s Emmanuel TV channel, Gomes says: ‘My name is Angel Gomes, I’m from Manchester. I’m sixteen.
‘I play for Manchester United Football Club. And I’ve been struggling really with injuries.
‘I’ve been having injuries around my hip and groin which have been affecting me playing. I also suffered an ankle injury not long ago which kept me out for a long time.
‘These injuries would come at hard times for me, times when I was having a breakthrough or times when I had to go to a tournament or playing games, these injuries would happen quite frequently.
‘I play for Man United, I also represent the England national team under-17 level as captain.
‘I’ve known about the Synagogue Church of Nations for a long time. As my family follow the prophet, my parents are big fans.
‘So we though it would be a good time for me to come and be touched by the prophet.’
In the ritual performed on Gomes, particular attention is paid to his legs and feet. At one point, Joshua places his foot on that of Gomes.
After the clips surfaced on Twitter, Gomes responded with a series of posts of his own.
He wrote: ‘Regarding the video that has come out from 2016. I am from a Christian family. At the time my mum was a fan of the pastor, and she really wanted me to go.
‘I was going through some issues. From the outside looking in it looks crazy, but I was just practising my faith.
‘I didn’t really need to explain myself but a lot of people was asking me what the video was about.
‘I was young at the time and if my parents thought something was best for me I would do it.
‘There are far more important issues out there in the world we can tackle.’
Gomes goes on to mention the free school meals campaign led by his United team-mate Marcus Rashford.
-Daily Mail
Manchester City are at risk of missing out on next season’s Champions League due to their recent dip in form, manager Pep Guardiola said.
City, who are looking to qualify for Europe’s top club competition for a 15th straight season, have won just one of their last eight Premier League games and are seventh, 12 points behind leaders Liverpool.
Guardiola’s side are four points behind Nottingham Forest, who occupy the fourth and final Champions League qualification berth.
“When I said before, people laughed. They said, ‘qualifying for the Champions League is not a big success’. But I know it because it happens with clubs in this country,” Guardiola told reporters ahead of their home match against Everton.
“They were dominant for many years and after they were many years not qualifying for the Champions League. The one team that has been in the Champions League for the past years has been Manchester City. Now we are at risk, of course we are.”
After hosting Everton later on Thursday City travel to face Leicester City on Dec. 29.
-Reuters
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Bukayo Saka will be sidelined for “many weeks” after suffering a hamstring injury in Arsenal’s 5-1 win at Crystal Palace, manager Mikel Arteta said Monday.
Asked at a press conference about the 23-year-old England international’s condition, Arteta said: “It is not looking good. He will be out for many weeks.”
Saka was filmed leaving Selhurst Park on crutches on Saturday, souring what had been a comprehensive second win over the Eagles in four days.
Arteta said after the match: “He felt something in his hamstring. He couldn’t continue. He will have to be assessed, so I’m pretty worried about that one.”
He also revealed on Monday that Raheem Sterling had injured his knee and would be out for many weeks.
Arteta was asked if there was a fear Saka would not return before the end of the season.
“No (there’s no fear),” he said. “I’m very optimistic he’ll be back before the end of the season.”
The Spaniard said it was part of the “development of a player”.
“It could have been much worse. It could have been something else that can take you out for a year,” he said.
“It’s how you react to that, how you overcome that situation and it’s a great learning process for him as well.
“It is what it is. He’s injured, we cannot change it. We’re going to use this time now to help him.”
Saka is crucial cog in Arsenal’s attack, scoring five Premier League goals and providing 10 assists this season, and his absence will be keenly felt.
Arteta said he was “putting some ideas together” about how to cope in the winger’s absence.
“We went through the period with Martin (Odegaard) and the period with five, six defenders missing,” he said. “We’re taking it with positive energy.”
Arsenal, who have finished as Premier League runners-up over the past two seasons, host relegation-threatened Ipswich on Friday.
The Gunners are third in the Premier League table, six points behind leaders Liverpool having played a game more.
-AFP
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Premier League
Ola Aina spearheads Nottingham Forest’s continued push for Europe with an impressive win at Brentford
Ola Aina was in his best element as he propelled Nottingham Forest to hand Brentford their first home defeat of the season.
Aina opened scoring in an eventual 2-0 defeat of Brentford who were unbeaten at home in 10 games in all competitions, which included nine victories, but the loss leaves them 12th in the standings with 23 points.
With Aina’s goal and an additional one by Anthony Elanga, Nottingham Forest will celebrate Christmas in the Premier League’s top four.
They are provisionally up to third position with 31 points.
“Most of the players were on the floor at the end. It’s difficult to come here,” Elanga said.
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