Tag: BBCsports.com

Dortmund Bomb Suspect Aimed To Profit From Shares – Police

Courtesy: ewn.co.za

German Police have arrested a man suspected of detonating three bombs that targeted the Borussia Dortmund football team bus last week, ahead of their UEFA champions league tie against A.S Monaco

Prosecutors said his aim was to send the club’s shares plummeting and making a profit on an investment.

The 28-year old man is a dual German and Russian national, identified as Sergei V, and had bought options on Borussia Dortmund’s stock bvb.de, before the attack.

The club shares rose at 1.8 per cent on April 12, the day after the attack, and are up about two per cent so far this year.

Rivers United Coach, Eguma Warns Against Complacency

CAF Confederation Cup: Rivers United Beat Rayon Sports 2-0Rivers United Technical Adviser, Stanley Eguma says he is not getting carried away by his team’s first leg win over Rayon Sports of Rwanda, in the round of 32 of the CAF Confederation Cup.

Two goals from Emeka Atuloma and Guy Kuemian, gave the Port Harcourt based side the crucial home win but despite the advantage, Eguma has warned his players not to get complacent ahead of the return leg in Rwanda.

Both sides would be meeting again on Saturday April 22 at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali with the aggregate winner progressing to the group stage of the competition.

Fernando Torres In Stable Condition, Discharged From Hospital

Fernando TorresAtletico Madrid Striker Fernando Torres has been discharged from hospital after having tests on the head injury he suffered in Thursday’s 1-1 draw with Deportivo La Coruna.

The 32-year-old spent the night in the hospital after falling heavily in an aerial challenge with Alex Bergantinos.

Atletico confirmed scans showed he has “no traumatic alterations or injuries” and will need to rest for 48 hours.

The club finished the game with 10 men, having used all three substitutes.

FCBarcelona Officially Lauches Soccer Academy In Lagos

FC Barcelona Officially Lauches Soccer Academy In LagosThe officials of FC Barcelona have lunched FCBEscola Soccer Academy in Lagos state, Nigeria.

The academy officially opened in the presence of FC Barcelona Director, Pau Vilanova and the Project Director of the FCBEscola, Franc Carbó.

The school which has been active since September 2016, is expected to enroll boys and girls between the ages 6 and 18.

It is the first of its kind in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa and would provide opportunities for potential footballers from all over the country as well as other parts of Africa, to receive first class training.

They would also receive training in English, Spanish, French and other Modern European languages, as well as General and Applied Mathematics, Humanities and Social Sciences, Creative, Technical and Vocational studies.

FCBEscola Lagos is modelled on FC Barcelona’s own youth system and students will be taught by the club’s coaches using its football methodology.

I’ve Always Wanted To Defend – Gabriel

GabrielArsenal FC defender, Gabriel, says he was always determined to become a defender.

Arsenal’s newest signing has impressed since joining the club and says his “main characteristic” was always to defend.

The 24-year-old began his career at Brazilian side, Esporte Clube Vitoria and, but for a short spell as a right winger, has played his entire career at the back.

“When we are little, we always want to be on the attack, but I realised that it wouldn’t work, so I kept going backwards and backwards,” Gabriel told the Arsenal Magazine.

“The only thing I didn’t try was being a goalkeeper. I stopped there.

“So I started to play in defence and I started to do well, I started to enjoy it. I made my decision, I thought: ‘This it is! I’m not leaving here’.

“I began enjoying it and I started to want to defend, to fight not to let them in, not to let the other team score goals.

“I always have that in my head – to want to defend, and defend well. And that is why.”

The centre back joined a select band of Brazilians when he joined the Gunners in January, following in the footsteps of Sylvinho and Edu.

He was named on Arsenal’s bench for the first time in their 5-0 win against Aston Villa on Sunday, February 1.

Steven Gerrard To Have Scan On Hamstring Injury

FBL-ENG-PR-CHELSEA-LIVERPOOLLiverpool FC Captain, Steven Gerrard, is to have a scan on a hamstring injury as Liverpool wait to find out the extent of the problem.

The midfielder was seen limping off with an injury during a 3-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday.

Prior to this, Major League Soccer club, LA Galaxy, had confirmed that Steven Gerrard would be joining it in July on an 18-month deal.

Steven Gerrard, while expressing his excitement said “I’m very excited to begin the next chapter of my career in the United States with LA Galaxy.

“The Galaxy are the most successful club in Major League Soccer history and I am looking forward to competing for more championships in the years to come,” Gerrard told the MLS club’s official website.

Gerrard who is, to date, the only footballer ever to have scored a goal in an FA Cup Final, a League Cup Final, a UEFA Cup Final and a Champions League Final, told the Liverpool Echo, that he would have agreed to continue his long Liverpool career, had the club offered him a new contract.

Meanwhile, the English club has expressed hope that Gerrard would still be able to play his usually key roles in the team’s quest for a good finish in the Premier League before his impending move to the U.S.

Liverpool Assistant Manager, Colin Pascoe, said of the injury, “Unfortunately, he felt his hamstring towards the end of the game and he is having a scan this morning and we are just waiting for results to come back.

“Hopefully the scans won’t show too much but as we’ve not got the results I can’t say too much.”

Gerrard would also be hoping that the injury is a minor one as he had declared his desire to give more to his boyhood club before departure.

“I am committed to helping the LA Galaxy compete for trophies and to having an impact in Los Angeles and I will give my all for the club.

“In the meantime, I will continue to give everything for Liverpool for the remainder of this season before joining up with the Galaxy,” said Gerrard.

The former England captain had spent his entire career at Liverpool, making nearly 700 appearances and winning the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup.

The 34-year-old midfielder would join a growing list of high-profile former Premier League players to cross the Atlantic in the latter stages of their careers, most notably David Beckham.

Former Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool striker, Robbie Keane, will be a teammate of Gerrard at the Galaxy while former Chelsea midfielder, Frank Lampard had signed for New York City FC, although he is still in England on loan at Manchester City.

Gabriel Ready For Arsenal Debut – Arsene Wenger

Gabriel-3Gabriel is “physically ready” to make his Arsenal debut, according to Arsène Wenger.

The Brazilian centre back joined the Gunners from Villarreal in January and was named on Arsenal’s bench for the first time in Sunday’s 5-0 win against Aston Villa.

Wenger says Gabriel could feature against Tottenham Hotspur but he feels no need to rush him.

He’s ready to start, he’s just not used to playing in our back four and he hasn’t mastered the language at all
Arsène Wenger

“Gabriel can start,” the manager said. “At the moment he’s ready to start, he’s just not used to playing in our back four and he hasn’t mastered the language at all. He’s physically ready.

“At the moment I have no special temptation to switch in the middle of our defence because we are going through a strong spell defensively. But he’s ready to play.”

Wenger also confirmed leading scorer Alexis will not feature at White Hart Lane but he is confident Arsenal have enough quality to continue their fine form.

“I don’t think about the game like that, we just want to play our game and perform,” he said.

“We have enough offensive options, we are not short. I think we have enough offensive power, if all of us perform individually and collectively, we can get above (Alexis’ absence).”