Odemwingie eyes more games for Stoke City
Villumsen wins women’s world title
Super Eagles forward, Osaze Odemwingie, yesterday stated that he hopes to stay injury-free and feature more for Stoke City this season after seeing action in the Capital One Cup.
Reacting after Stoke’s 1-0 away win against Fulham , the former Spartak Moscow star also expressed his delight after making his first start for the Potters for over one year.
“First start for me in over a year. Hope I stay fit and have many more. Solid team performance and we are through to the next round!” he wrote on his Twitter handle.
Odemwingie was replaced by new signing Xherdan Shakiri in the 84th minute of the match.
Meanwhile, a 33rd minute strike by Peter Crouch secured the win for Stoke.
Former Cardiff City forward Odemwingie missed majority of last season after he picked up a knee ligament injury in August 2014. He just recently recovered from a knee injury which he sustained in August. Danish-born New Zealander Linda Villumsen, five times previously on the podium without a victory, broke through on Tuesday to win the women’s individual time-trial at the World Road Cycling Championships in Richmond, Virginia.
The 30-year-old Kiwi, who won last year’s Commonwealth Games time-trial, captured the world crown by completing the 29.9km course in 40mins 29.87secs.
Dutch star Anna Van der Breggen was the runner-up, 2.54 seconds back, with 2014 world champion Lisa Brennauer of Germany third, 5.26 off the pace.
“I just can’t believe it. I really can’t believe it,” Villumsen said. “Everything has turned out my way. It’s incredible.”
Villumsen, who became a New Zealand citizen six years ago, was third at worlds in 2009, 2010 and 2012, and second in 2011 and 2013. She was also fourth in the 2012 London Olympics, missing a medal by less than two seconds.
“It’s difficult being every time on the podium and nearly there and not quite there and almost there,” Villumsen said. “It all worked out my way today and it feels great.”
Racing over the longest women’s world time-trial course in 20 years helped, Villumsen said.
“I like a longer course,” she said. “Usually I fade out a little bit. On a longer course I hold myself back. When I was halfway and I wasn’t empty, I thought, ‘This is going well.’”
Even after she moved into the lead, she was scared she might miss out again until her dream finally came true.