Sports

BREAKING: Chelsea Get New Manager

Published

1 month ago

June 3, 2024

Chelsea FC have officially appointed Enzo Maresca as their new manager.

The former Manchester City assistant coach and Leicester boss brings a wealth of experience to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea fans are eagerly anticipating how Maresca will shape the team’s strategy and performance in the upcoming season.

The club’s announcement has sparked excitement and optimism among supporters, who are hopeful that Maresca’s leadership will usher in a new era of success for the Blues.

In a Monday post on the club’s X handle, the club shared, “Welcome to Chelsea, Enzo Maresca!”

A club statement also revealed that Maresca signed a five year contract with the club.

“Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Enzo Maresca as the new head coach of the men’s team.

“The Italian will begin his new role on 1 July 2024 on a five-year contract, with a club option of a further year,” it read.

Chelsea sporting directors
Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, Chelsea’s co-sporting directors, said, “We are delighted to welcome Enzo to Chelsea. He has proven himself to be an excellent coach capable of delivering impressive results with an exciting and identifiable style.

“Enzo has deeply impressed us in our discussions leading up to his appointment. His ambitions and work ethic align with those of the club. We thoroughly look forward to working with him.”

Chelsea ownership group
Chelsea’s ownership group said, “We are thrilled to welcome Enzo into the Chelsea family. We look forward to supporting him and the rest of the sporting team in fulfilling their potential and our expectations over the years to come.

“He is a highly gifted coach and leader that we are confident can help fulfil our vision and competitive goals for the Club.”

Maresca also expressed his delight in joining the club. He acknowledged the club’s tradition of success and talented players.

He said, “To join Chelsea, one of the biggest clubs in the world, is a dream for any coach. It is why I am so excited by this opportunity.

“I look forward to working with a very talented group of players and staff to develop a team that continues the club’s tradition of success and makes our fans proud.”

Maresca previous spells
After spells on the coaching staff of Ascoli, Sevilla and West Ham United, Enzo took charge of Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad in August 2020 and guided them to the 2021 Premier League 2 title.

After a stint with Parma and another as assistant coach at Man City, Enzo was appointed head coach at Leicester City in June 2023. The 44-year-old guided the club to the EFL Championship title and promotion back to the Premier League in his first season in charge.

Maresca coaching team
Enzo’s staff will include former Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Caballero, Danny Walker, Michele De Bernardin, Marcos Alvarez, Javi Molina and Roberto Vitiello. Ben Roberts will join the staff as goalkeeper coach and has been appointed to the role of head of global goalkeeping.

We are also delighted to confirm the appointment of Bernardo Cueva who will lead the set-piece department.

According to The PUNCH earlier report, the club were holding talks to make Maresca their new head coach, according to British media reports.

Chelsea are on the hunt for a new manager after parting company with Mauricio Pochettino.

Sports

Finidi George Gets New Job

Published

14 hours ago

July 3, 2024

Editor

Former Super Eagles coach Finidi George has taken up another managerial job at Nigeria Premier Football League side, Rivers United, barely three weeks after resigning as the head coach of Nigeria’s men’s senior national team, The PUNCh reports.

Finidi was announced as the head coach of the 2022 NPFL champions on Wednesday with an unveiling set to follow on Thursday.

“Rivers United Football Club is pleased to announce the appointment of Finidi George as our new Technical Manager,” the club said in a statement on Wednesday.

Finidi brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our team, having had a distinguished playing career spanning over fifteen years.

The statement reads, “His impressive credentials include winning the Africa Cup of Nations with the Super Eagles in 1994, the UEFA Champions League with Ajax in 1995, and the Nigeria Premier Football League with Enyimba International FC in 2023.

“As a coach, Finidi has demonstrated his ability to lead teams to success, and we are confident that he will bring his expertise and passion to our club. We are excited to have him on board and look forward to a successful tenure under his leadership.”

Finidi left his role as the Super Eagles head coach in June after two games in charge. It was in the wake of the team’s poor performance in two 2026 World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and the Benin Republic which forced the Nigeria Football Federation to resort to hiring a foreign technical adviser for the team.

Before taking the Super Eagles job, Finidi spent two full seasons and almost completed the third with Enyimba, leading them to their record-ninth NPFL title in 2023.

At Rivers United, he takes over the leadership from head coach Evans Ogenyi, who guided the club until the end of last season after the dismissal of the long-serving Stanley Eguma.

A native of Port Harcourt, the 53-year-old began his career with Calabar Rovers, Iwanyanwu Nationale and represented local club Sharks FC – which was merged in 2016 with Dolphins to form Rivers United – for two seasons before embarking on a stellar European career.

Sports

[BREAKING] PHOTOS: Germany, Denmark Euro 2024 Game Halted Due To Violent Storm

Published

5 days ago

June 29, 2024

Editor

The Euro 2024 last-16 tie between Germany and Denmark on Saturday was temporarily halted late in the first half due to a violent storm.

English referee Michael Oliver stopped the match in Dortmund in the 35th minute and took the players off the pitch amid torrential rain, hailstones, high winds, thunder and lightning.

The score was 0-0 at the time of the stoppage at around 9:35 pm (1935 GMT).

“Due to adverse weather conditions, the game has been suspended. More information to follow,” read a message posted on big screens inside the stadium.

Supporters in exposed seats in the 60,000 crowd were left to seek cover as water poured from the stadium roof.

Fan zones in Dortmund were also closed due to the weather conditions, local police told SID, an AFP subsidiary.

AFP

Sports

Legendary Boxer, Over 500 Young Benin Residents Participate In Olympic Day Run

Published

5 days ago

June 29, 2024

Editor

…as Obaseki, Alli preach peace, unity

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo

Legendary Boxer, Isaac Ikhuoria(Oly) alongside over 500 young men and women on Saturday, June 29, participated in a 5km road race in Benin, the Edo State capital, to celebrate the 2024 Olympic Day.

INFO DAILY reports that the Olympic Day is an event celebrated globally. This year’s theme is ‘Let’s Move and Celebrate’.

The runners who began the 5km race from the Samuel Ogbemudia at the Sumuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, at about 8:00am were led by the chairman, Oredo Local Council Dr Tom Obaseki, and the Permanent Secretary, Edo State Sports Commission, Dr Igbinosa Emmanuel.

The duo led the runners through Akenzua Road; Plymouth Road, King Square(Ring Road)through Oba Market Road, Zabayor Street and rounded off the exercise at the stadium, where certificates of participation were given to the participants.

2024 Olympic Day: Legendary boxer, Isaac Ikhuoria (left) receiving certificate of participation from Dr Igbinosa Emmanuel, PS, Edo State Sports commission on Saturday, June 29, 2024.

In his message, President, International Olympic Committee ( IOC), Thomas Bach, encouraged the Olympic community to celebrate the joy that only sports bring.

The message which was delivered by Obaseki, the President expressed optimism that at the Paris Olympics, “the athletes will inspire us with their achievements -they will inspire the world by living our Olympic motto: Faster,Higher-Stronger-Strong together.”

He added: “On Olympic Day, we celebrate the creation of the Olympic Movement by our founder Pierre de Coubertin. This year’s Olympic Day is a special one, taking place just ahead of the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

“With the excitement building, the athletes; the fans, the entire Olympic Community around the world -all of us- we are looking forward to a new era of Olympic Games; younger, more inclusive, more urban and more sustainable.”

Also speaking at the event, the Chairman, Edo Sports Commission, Olympian Yussuf Alli, described the Olympic Day as significant, saying it is a day set aside by the International Olympic Committee, IOC, to celebrate sports men and women and to encourage mass participation in sports.

The Chairman who was represented by Dr Igbinosa Emmanuel, Permanent Secretary of the Commission, added: “Firstly, it is marked all over the world .That is why it is under the umbrella body of the ‘Sports For All’ in IOC.

“So, Nigeria being a full member of the International Olympic Committee is celebrating it. And that is why the IOC wrote to Nigeria and Edo State to participate in the exercise.

“It is happening all over the world and we are happy that we are a part of the celebration.

“It helps us to create the right awareness for fitness and also to bring people together because the essence of sports is coming together so that we can move forward and celebrate according to this year’s theme’ Move and Celebrate,” Igbinosa emphasized.

Obaseki on his part, highlighted the benefit of Olympic Day and sports as a unifying event that brings people together and promotes peace and health.

“We all understand that Olympic is a unifying event that brings people together, promotes peace, statesmanship and sportsmanship.

“So, wherever we are we should understand that sports bring people together and in the process,we keep ourselves healthy,” he added.