Fans petition to retire Tiote’s number
LONDON, June 7, (AFP): The sense of loss in Newcastle at the death of Ivory Coast midfielder Cheick Tiote has been reflected by over 1,000 Newcastle United fans signing a petition to have his shirt number of 24 retired the BBC reported Wednesday.
Tiote — who was a member of the Ivory Coast squad that ended a 23 year drought winning the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations — died on Monday after ‘suddenly fainting’ during a training session with his second tier Chinese club Beijing Enterprises.
Tiote — who received many glowing tributes with former Newcastle manager Steve McClaren saying when he smiled one knew everything was good with the world — had only joined them in February after a seven year stay with Newcastle.
The petition started on Tuesday by NUFC4Life on change.org quickly attracted over 1,000 signatures.
“In the light of the legends death,” read the petition.
“The shirt number should be retired in honour of his life. A Newcastle legend taken too soon.
“Get your friends and family to sign. Share on social media. Let’s show Tiote how much we loved him.”
Tiote, one of 10 children who didn’t possess a pair of football boots till he was 15, scored just one goal during his time at Newcastle.
However, the spectacular volley from outside the penalty area is an iconic goal according to former Magpies manager Alan Pardew as it sealed a remarkable comeback from 4-0 down to force a 4-4 draw with Arsenal in a Premier League clash in February 2011. behind me.”
Belgian Thomas De Gendt of Lotto held on to the overall leader’s yellow jersey after the fourth stage, 27sec ahead of Porte and 51sec ahead of third placed Alejandro Valverde, who was also third on the stage.
Spain’s Alberto Contador was seventh, two seconds ahead of Froome, and moved up to fifth overall at 1min 02sec with the Briton sixth at 1:04.
Reigning champion Froome had said on Tuesday that the time-trial would be “an important milestone” in the eightstage race, which is seen as a form indicator for July’s Tour de France.
“We’ve got a very similar kind of prologue in Dusseldorf, and a similar timetrial in Marseille at the end of the Tour. It’s good practice and a good hit out ahead of that,” Froome had said.
Being off the pace on a discipline in
Stage winner Australia’s Richie Porte celebrates on the podium after winning a 23.5 km individual time-trial, the fourth stage of the 69th edition of the Criterium du Dauphine cycling race on June 7 between La
Tour-du-Pin and Bourgoin-Jallieu. (AFP)
which he usually excels, and often takes time out of his overall rivals, will be a worry for three-time Tour winner Froome, who has yet to taste victory in a race this season.
Veteran Contador was satisfied with his race, but said he can still improve.
“I felt good, but I still have a margin for improvement to be totally comfortable in the time-trial,” he said.
Froome had predicted Porte would do well before the stage began.
“I think that Richie is in great form,” he said on Wednesday morning.
Porte flew round the course at an average speed of more than 50kph, finishing 12sec faster than Martin and 24sec ahead of in-form Spanish veteran Valverde.
Thursday’s stage looks to be one for the sprinters before the race heads to the