Kicking off!
Despite sloppy preparations, Team Nigeria is set to compete at the 2016 Olympics which commences from August 5th to 21st in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A total of 78 athletes will represent Nigeria in 10 events. On Tuesday, President Muhammadu Buhari hosted the contingent to a farewell dinner at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja where he charged Team Nigeria to go for medals in Brazil.
In our cover story, we take a look at Team Nigeria’s preparation for the Olympics and the scepticism which is trailing the contingent to Rio 2016.
Former Kano Pillars and Akwa Ibom midfielder, Ubon Ekpai who has joined Israeli club, Maccabi Haifa granted us an exclusive interview which will interest you. He spoke on his disappointment following his exclusion from the Rio 2016 Dream Team VI.
The Nigeria Professional Football League will continue with matches scheduled to hold across the country. All eyes will no doubt be on Enugu and Bauchi where title chasing Rangers and Wikki Tourists will be playing.
And our man in London, David Billington has not taken his foot off the pedal as he has again brought you up to speed with some of the top secrets and events in European football.
Although his form is a huge suspect, reigning Olympics 800 m champions, David Rudisha of Kenya wants to cement his Olympic legacy by becoming the first man to successfully defend his title since the 1964 Olympics.
We round up with the story of the man of the moment in world football, Paul Pogba who is badly needed by English giants, Manchester United.
Apart from the mouth watering figures, Pogba’s story is fascinating. Four years ago he left United on free transfer to Juventus but if he is to go back, United must cough out nothing less than £100 million.
Enjoy this edition of SHOT! and have a splendid weekend.
“I feel that my body is coming back pretty nicely and I am in better form than last year. I am focused and determined to defend my title”. Olympics 800meters defending champion, Kenya’s David Rudisha saying he is regaining his lost form in time for the 2016 Rio Olympics. “It is a massive challenge to win the Olympics and credit should go to the group that made it against all odds back in 1996. We must not forget though that we are now a different group of players and a different generation all together”. Chippa United goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, one of the three ‘over-age’ players allowed at the Under-23 men’s tournament in Rio expressing hope that Dream Team VI will emulate the set of 1996. “We are the marked team right now in the league and every other team sees us as the one to be pulled down, but we have resolved to up our game and spill blood if needs be to sustain the top spot until we are crowned champions at the end of the season”. Enugu Rangers central attacker Edoh Ocheme saying his side want to widen the gap at the summit in the on-going Nigerian top-flight.