News
StartTimes eyes mouth-watering games this week


Football fans throughout Africa can look forward to a feast of great football as they will be able to watch some of Europe’s top sides in action in three great leagues.
The Super Week kicks off on Thursday with Premier League powerhouses Arsenal and Manchester United involved in Europe League action.
United brought an end to Liverpool’s astonishing run of 17 consecutive league victories (dating back to the 2018/19 season) with a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Sunday for a result that gives beleaguered coach Ole Gunnar Solskjær some breathing space ahead of the Reds’ table-topping away match in the Europa League against Partizan Belgrade.
The Serbian club currently top Group L on goals scored from United and will fancy their chances in what is bound to be a sold-out Partizan stadium.
Parni valjak (The Steamroller), as the club is affectionately known by its fans, has two African players in their squad, with both not only getting regular game-time, they are also amongst the club’s top scorers.
Nigerian forward Umar Sadiq, who is on loan from Serie A club AS Roma, has scored five goals this season and is Coach Savo Milošević’s preferred striker. The 22-year-old scored both goals in Partizan’s 2-1 victory at Astana, which took them to the top of the group.
Guinean attacking midfielder Seydouba Soumah has even scored one goal more than Sadiq and also features prominently in Milošević’s game plan.
Milošević, who played in the Premier League for Aston Villa, said he would “do everything to make sure our guests will feel comfortable and to think only of a game of football.
“I will say to our fans: ‘A big club, a giant club, is coming to visit us — and we should be honoured to play against Manchester United for the first time since 1966’. We have to be proud to host the players, coaches, leaders and fans of such a great club.”
Also on Thursday Arsenal with superstar Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang defend their Group F lead at home against Vitória de Guimarães.
Having won both previous matches in the group phase, the Gunners can go into their game against their Portuguese opponents with some confidence, although they will have had just three days’ rest after playing Sheffield United in the league.
The Super Week moves to the Bundesliga on Saturday as arguably the biggest derby in German football: The Ruhr derby, takes place in the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen and sees Schalke 04 welcome Borussia Dortmund.
On par with the world’s greatest derbies, like Al Ahly v Zamalek, AC Milan v Inter, or Barcelona v Real Madrid, the game between the two giants of the Bundesliga enflames passion not only around the whole Ruhr region, but throughout Germany.
Schalke missed out on an opportunity to go to the top of the Bundesliga table for the first time since 2010 as they were beaten 2-0 in Sunday’s late match at Hoffenheim. A victory would have seen Die Knappen open up a one-point lead in the standings.
Dortmund, for their part, will go into the local derby buoyed with confidence having beaten log leaders Borussia Mönchengladbach 1-0 on Saturday to move to within a point of the Bundesliga summit.
Schalke coach David Wagner said although he was disappointed with the result in Hoffenheim, there had been a lot of positive things that his side displayed. “We were let down by not converting our chances. But now we will regroup and focus on the next game. We will take our good points into the game against Dortmund as we want to do well against them.”
Germany international Marco Reus, who scored Dortmund’s winning goal against Mönchengladbach, said that they were facing some tough matches, starting with Schalke. “That will show in which direction we are heading this season. Of course we want to go to the top and the victory on the weekend was an important step towards that. We will now go into the game against Schalke with a lot of confidence.”
But as the saying goes: All good things come in threes and African football fans will look towards Ligue 1 to complete the Super Week of football as the first of this season’s Le Classique takes place in the Parc des Princes as Paris Saint-Germain welcome Olympique de Marseille.
Once the star of French football, OM have lost some of their standing to big-spenders PSG and the last time the club from the French Riviera beat their rivals was in 2011 and there is little to suggest that things could be any different this time around.
Even OM coach André Villas-Boas, who took his side to a victory against Strasbourg on Sunday, is aware of the enormity of the task that awaits his side. “We will try to do something, we dream of winning, but it (PSG) is a team from another league, in my opinion. If you look at the ranking after six match days, in my opinion, you have the reality. Paris is focused on the Champions League. “
“It is true that there are gaps”, said midfielder Valentin Rongier. “But I do not think they are unbeatable, they lost in Reims and against Rennes.”
Defender Boubacar Kamara, who was only 12 the last time his club beat PSG, is similarly upbeat, saying tongue in cheek: “Cavani, Neymar or Mbappé, we all know them. We use them to play FIFA and we win.”
African football fans will be the first to know if OM can win Le Classique as they can watch all the matches of the Super Week live and exclusive on the StarTimes football channels. It is a week no real football fan will want to miss.


Digital solutions provider, Globacom, has congratulated Christians in Nigeria on this year’s Easter celebration, and urged them to emulate the noble qualities of Jesus Christ.
The company, in a goodwill message to the Christian faithful in the country, lauded their perseverance through the Lenten period which preceded Easter. It enjoined them to always promote the ideals of selflessness, love and peace among all as a way of demonstrating the virtues of the exemplary life of Jesus Christ.
“Peace, love and sacrifice are the central message of Easter. Christ offered himself in atonement for the sins of the world and he lived a life which made Him an eternal symbol of peace and goodwill for mankind”, Globacom added.
The company enjoined all Nigerians to share in the lessons of promoting selflessness, a necessary ingredient in the growth and development of every society. It also enjoined all Nigerians to join hands to make Nigeria a better place for all.
Easter is celebrated yearly at the end of the Lenten season of fasting and prayer considered as a ritual of purification for the Christian faithful. It also precedes the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ on Good Friday and His eventual resurrection on Easter Sunday.
The company assured its customers of seamless voice, data and Short Messaging Service (SMS) during and after the Easter celebrations, while urging them to avail themselves of the various data and voice offerings on the network.


The Guild of Private Broadcast Managers has extended its heartfelt congratulations to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) as it celebrates its 70th Anniversary.
In a congratulatory message signed by the Guild’s National President, Ambassador Patrick Uzoyi-Peters, JP MNGRM, the guild described the milestone as a testament to the NUJ’s unwavering commitment to upholding press freedom, journalistic integrity, and the advancement of democracy in Nigeria.
“For seven decades, the NUJ has played a pivotal role in shaping the media landscape, advocating for the rights and welfare of journalists, and ensuring that the voice of the people remains strong and unyielding. Your resilience, professionalism, and dedication to ethical journalism have been instrumental in fostering transparency, accountability, and national development”.
Celebrating this historic achievement, the Guild’s President, Uzoyi-Peters recognized the sacrifices and contributions of journalists across the nation who work tirelessly to inform, educate, and empower society.
The Guild reiterated it commitment towards collaborating with the NUJ in promoting responsible journalism and strengthening the media industry for the greater good.
While wishing the NUJ continued success, growth, and greater impact in the years ahead, President Uzoyi-Peters prayed that the anniversary serve as a renewed call to uphold the principles of truth, fairness, and press freedom in our collective pursuit of a more informed and just society.
News
Family Marks one-year Memorial of Late APC Chieftain, Ojougboh with Charity Outreach
By Ikenna Oluka


The family of the late chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, led by his wife, Mrs. Bose Ojougboh, marked his one-year memorial anniversary with a series of charitable initiatives aimed at honoring his legacy of philanthropy and service to society.
The memorial activities included the donation of school books and bags to pupils of Erigbe Primary School, in Agbor within the Ika South Local Government Area (LGA) of Delta State, where Dr. Ojougboh had received his early education.
The outreach also included extension of financial assistance to patients at Central Hospital, Agbor, and the provision of toiletries, cash, and food items to children at the Salve Regina Children’s Home, Agbor.
The outreach was carried out under the ‘Dr. Cairo Ojougboh Foundation’, a family-led initiative established to immortalise him and continue his lifelong commitment to education, healthcare, and social welfare.
Speaking during the event which took place recently, Mrs. Ojougboh reaffirmed the family’s dedication to sustaining the ideals of the late APC chieftain, describing him as a man who strongly believed in education and giving back to society.
“We are here to celebrate the life of my husband, Late Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, who passed on a year ago. In his honour, we decided to give back to society. He was a man who valued education and was always willing to help others. It is only fitting that we continue his legacy through acts of generosity,” she stated.
Honouring his passion for education
The first visit was to Erigbe Primary School, where Dr. Ojougboh had received his early education. The Foundation distributed school bags, writing materials, and food packs to the pupils. The family encouraged the pupils to take their education seriously and strive to become responsible citizens.
Supporting patients at Central Hospital, Agbor
At Central Hospital, Agbor, Mrs. Ojougboh and her entourage moved through the medical wards, offering financial support to patients to assist with their treatment costs. The hospital staff and beneficiaries responded with prayers and words of gratitude for the kind gesture.
Reaching out to orphaned children
The outreach team also visited Salve Regina Children’s Home in Agbor where they donated cash, food items, and toiletries to the children.


The Matron of the home expressed her deep appreciation to the Ojougboh family, commending their commitment to sustaining the late politician’s legacy of compassion and social impact.
Dr. Cairo Ojougboh’s enduring legacy
Reflecting on her late husband’s contributions to society, Mrs. Ojougboh emphasised that his legacy of generosity and service to humanity would not be forgotten.
“Dr. Cairo was a selfless man who touched many lives. His contributions to the Nigerian political landscape, his mark in Agbor Kingdom, Delta State, and the country at large, will always be remembered. He may be gone, but his impact will continue to be felt for generations,” she said.
The Dr. Cairo Ojougboh Foundation has pledged to continue supporting education, healthcare, and social welfare initiatives in his memory, ensuring that his vision for a better society lives on.