Sports
LaLiga Santander enters 2019 with leaders Barcelona looking to stay ahead
The first weekend of LaLiga Santander in 2019 will see leaders Barcelona looking to stay ahead at the top but also potential opportunities for a chasing pack including Sevilla, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid to make up ground.
Barça ended 2018 three points clear after captain Lionel Messi starred in four straight LaLiga victories. However, the Catalans’ first game of the New Year on Sunday evening brings a tough challenge against a Getafe team who have conceded just once in their last four games at their Coliseum Alfonso Perez.
Earlier on Sunday afternoon third-placed Sevilla host second placed Atletico Madrid in what will be a real test of both teams’ title credentials. Ex-Sevilla midfielder Diego Simeone masterminded a 5-2 victory on his return to the Sanchez-Pizjuán with his current side last season and will be keen to repeat but the Andalusians ended 2018 with six straight LaLiga wins in front of their own fans. This should be a good one.
Real Madrid’s bid to get back into the title race continues on Sunday against Real Sociedad. Facing Club World Cup 2018 Golden Ball winner Gareth Bale and company is undoubtedly a tough start for the Basque side’s new coach, Imanol Alguacil, but one the club from San Sebastian will relish.
The weekend’s action begins early Friday evening with Levante hosting Girona at the Ciutat de Valencia with both teams, who spent the winter break in the top half, aiming to ensure the holidays have not stalled their fine early season momentum.
Later on Friday, Espanyol host Leganes at the RCDE Stadium with the home fans hoping their team has used the break to regroup and begin again, while the visitors from the capital will aim to keep up the form which saw them unbeaten in their last seven LaLiga games of 2018.
Saturday’s programme begins at the Estadio Jose Zorilla with two teams promoted to LaLiga Santander last year. Hosts Real Valladolid have settled in to their top-flight status quicker than visitors Rayo Vallecano, but both teams will start 2019 knowing they must keep picking up points to ensure safety.
Next up are Alaves, still unbeaten in front of their own supporters at Mendizorrotza this season, who host a Valencia side whose impressive improvement late last year included just one defeat in five on the road.
The day’s action ends at El Alcoraz, where bottom team Huesca will be aiming to begin the year with a badly needed win against a Real Betis side who went into the winter break in sixth but will surely be aiming even higher in 2019.
Sunday starts with Eibar against Villarreal where one of LaLiga Santander’s longest serving coaches in Jose Luis Mendilibar will welcome Luis Garcia, who returned to Spanish football late last year after adventures in the UAE [Baniyas] and China [Beijing Renhe], to replace Javi Calleja at the helm at the Estadio de la Ceramica.
To close out the matchday, the first Monday game of 2019 sees RC Celta and Athletic Club looking to continue upswings in form started late last year under their respective new managers, Miguel Cardoso and Gaizka Garitano.
…reaffirms MTN Nigeria’s support following ‘draw’ with Zimbabwe.
MTN Nigeria, the official telecommunications partner of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), has reiterated its unwavering support for the Super Eagles following their spirited draw with Zimbabwe in the World Cup qualifier match at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.
Building on the momentum from their recent victory against Rwanda, MTN Nigeria had expressed strong backing for the national team ahead of the crucial fixture. Tobe Okigbo, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Corporate Services & Sustainability Officer, stated before the game, “We are confident in the team’s ability to make Nigeria proud and qualify for the World Cup.”
Despite the draw, MTN Nigeria’s CEO, Karl Toriola, maintained a positive outlook. “While tonight’s outcome wasn’t what we hoped for, we remain steadfast in our support for the Super Eagles. This result is just part of the journey towards World Cup qualification, and we believe in the team’s resilience and ability to succeed,” Toriola said.
The match showcased the Super Eagles’ grit and determination as they found their rhythm against the Zimbabwean side. Nigeria scored the first goal, demonstrating their prowess and fighting spirit, although the match ultimately ended in a draw. This result has added to the excitement of Nigeria’s path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
MTN Nigeria, which signed a deal with the NFF in 2021 as the Official Telecoms Partner, has been a constant pillar of support for Nigerian football for over two decades. The company’s commitment extends from grassroots to national levels, investing significantly in the development of local football.
“Our support for the Super Eagles and all national teams is part of our long-standing tradition,” Toriola added. “We are building a sustainable legacy of collaboration, growth, and development in the football space. Tonight’s result doesn’t change our belief in the team’s potential to make all Nigerians proud on the global stage. We believe in our Eagles.”
As the Super Eagles regroup and prepare for their next qualifier, MTN Nigeria has called on all Nigerians to rally behind the team. The company emphasized that this is a crucial time for unity and continued support, expressing confidence that the Super Eagles will overcome this challenge and strive towards securing a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Sports
Portugal Football Club Signs on 19-Year-Old Nigerian- born Footballer, Yaqub Usman-Malah
Reporter: Sandra Ani
Brito Sporting Club of Portugal, a football club founded in 1956, has signed an official contract with a United Kingdom-based highly-talented, young Nigeria-born footballer, Yaqub Usman-Malah.
The official unveiling of the young promising footballer was carried out on Saturday, January 4, 2025.
Yaqub, born in Nigeria in 2006, is a budding Nigerian talent with unquantifiable promise and potential.
Prior to his official contract with Brito Sporting Club of Portugal, he was a student and a trainee player with the Brooke College Football Academy in the United Kingdom.
At Brooke College Football Academy, Yaqub had an impressive goal average of 17 goals in 32 matches with no injuries in 116 training days, cumulating into 2, 270 minutes of on-field action.
A clear testimony of his outstanding performance at the Academy was provided by the lead coach of the Under-17B team Yaqub played with.
The lead coach, Tomasz Wasylik, described Yaqub as a ‘well-liked person’ and a role model to his teammates due to his professionalism and unmatched work rate.
The Lead Coach further stated that Yaqub has played in National School Cup competitions against other colleges and programmes in the 2023/2024 session and is a good ‘tactical player’, ‘technically good” and can ‘play in multiple positions on the field’.
It is expected that Yaqub will live to the potential and promise identified by Coach Tomasz Wasylik of the Brooke College Football Academy and achieve greatness in his new club.
“While looking forward to the display of his unarguable skills and boundless stamina, we wish Yaqub a successful career and a place in the halls of football greatness across the globe,” Yaqub’s father, Mr Usman Malah said in a statement issued to the media, on Wednesday 8, 2025.
Man City counts 28 trophies in the last 10 yearsQNET, an Asian direct selling giant and Manchester City, a top Football club in and outside England, are celebrating 10 years of partnership with great results.
The anniversary was part of the 26th V-Malaysia Conference (VCON) at Penang in Malaysia.
The long-standing partnership will see QNET continue as Official Direct Selling Partner for City’s men’s and women’s teams, according to Techeconomy report.
This partnership marked a significant milestone in May 2018 when City welcomed QNET as the first sleeve partner in the Women’s Super League.
Throughout the next phase of this partnership QNET will continue to provide City-led football clinics to communities around the world, as well as engaging with consumers and distributors through this relationship with City.
In a message to the leaders of QNET and the 8,000 VCON participants from over 30 countries, Ferran Soriano, the chief executive officer of Manchester City FC, said they are pleased to achieve great milestones that would not have been possible without the support and the commitment of everybody at QNET, “and every single one of you. I do remember back in 2014 when I met the leadership of QNET for the first time, and we discussed our plans, our ambitions, and we promised a lot.
“We promised that Manchester City would be a great football team, and that they would play beautiful football. Now, 10 years since then, we hold 28 trophies. I have to be honest and say that when we promised we were going to do well, we didn’t think we were going to win 28 trophies.
“We’re excited now we’re starting a new season, and guess what? We want to win again, and if we do, it would be another record. Maybe we can win the fifth Premier League in a row. Obviously, something that hasn’t happened before. I can promise that we will fight for all the trophies like you fight for all your objectives. Manchester City and QNET have the incredible power to engage people from every country, create a sense of community and empower individuals and teams to achieve their aspirations”.
He promised Manchester City’s support to the QNET brand to achieve even more successes in the coming years.
Trevor Kuna, the CEO of QNET said that the partnership with Manchester City has made positive impacts on the business.
QNET’s grass-roots business model enables ordinary people from all walks of life to start their own business with minimal overhead.
With hard work and dedication, QNET distributors, known as Independent Representatives (IRs) have the opportunity to become economically self-sufficient, raising the standard of life for their families and communities.
QNET is driven by two important philosophies: RYTHM (Raise Yourself to Help Mankind) and InService.
Meanwhile, the highlight of the QNET and Manchester City celebration was the presentation of a 10-year partnership anniversary plaque by John Kirton, senior partnership marketing manager, Manchester City Football Club to the QNET team.
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