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Sports

Both the club and the Brazilian forward himself have confirmed he will formally put pen to paper on Monday and join the Camp Nou giants this summer

Barcelona has officially confirmed it has reached a deal with Santos to sign Brazilian star Neymar, who will sign a five-year contract with the club on Monday.

The forward himself also broke the news through his Instagram and Facebook accounts and revealed his appearance against Flamengo on Sunday would be his last for his boyhood club.

Germany's capital will play host to the competition's showpiece for the first time in its history, with the Europa League set to be contested in Warsaw.

UEFA has announced that the 2015 Champions League final will be held in Berlin's Olympiastadion.

The stadium was built when the German capital hosted the 1936 Olympic Games but has never staged the final of Europe's top competition.

However, the continent's governing body has confirmed that the showpiece will return to Germany just three years after Chelsea claimed the title at Munich's Allianz Arena.

"I already told Michel Platini at the 2012 final in Munich that we wish to host this worldwide event again soon," German Football Federation president Wolfgang Niersbach said.

"The fact that it happened so quickly is credit to our ability to organize things and be a good host. I am looking forward to a big football party in Berlin."

Meanwhile, the National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland will host the 2015 Europa League final.

The arena was built for last summer's European Championship and hosted five matches, including the opening fixture of the tournament, one quarterfinal and one semifinal.

In a Madrid derby that went into extra time, Atletico Madrid found the back of the net twice to emerge winner of the 2012 -13 Copa Del Rey.Thus ending  fourteen years of hurt. Atletico last beat Madrid in 1999.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who was sent off via a red card, gave Real Madrid an early lead. But goals from Diego Costa and Miranda ensured that ATLETICO MADRID secured their tenth Copa del Rey title. Final scores ATM 2: RMD 1.

“You reflect my sentiment exactly… I share your views though… May I also say that you make sense most of the time…” Bolaji Abdullahi, HM, Chairman NSC

 

Introduction

 

This is the last part of my letter to His Excellency, the aim is to set-up a platform for investigative agencies to do their work. From the media firestorms that Mr. Bolaji Abdullahi unleashed to rebut my observations without proof suggesting one or two things that weren’t really helpful towards sports development in Nigeria, I can discern that his cronies such as Enefiok Udo-Bong and Tunde Akinlabi argued about my credentials academically and sports.

 

Intrigues and Sadness

 

Your Excellency, I like to think that Mr. Abdullahi is not paying this cronies part of the N22Million NSC budgeted for promotion without any necessity because media in Nigeria reports the truth (I would think) about the government for free otherwise it is illegal. I will vouch for that any day but cannot remove occasional paid propaganda from my thoughts.

 

Your Excellency, as the Minister cronies shouted that I’m an illiterate; such statement caused me to laugh out loud with my friends and children as such abbreviated version of my academic and professional credential follows:

 

▪     Master of Laws (LLM) with Merit                                       2009

 

       University of London  (UCL & Queen Mary)                    UK

 

 

 

▪     Postgraduate Diploma in European Law                            2008

 

       University of London                                                           UK

 

 

 

▪     Postgraduate Certificate in International Business Law   2008

 

       University of London                                                           UK

 

 

 

▪     Bachelor of Laws (LLB) with Honors                                    2007

 

       University of London, London                                              UK

 

 

 

▪     MBA / Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration (PhD)   1990 / 1996       

 

      California Coast University Santa Ana, CA                       USA

 

 

 

▪     Certificate in Business with Accounting concentration   1989

 

       University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) CA           USA

 

 

 

▪     Bachelor of Science in Accounting                                      1988

 

       Minnesota State University (former Moorhead St.) MN     USA

 

                (2yrs Part time & professional training in California)

 

 

 

▪     West African School Certificate (O’Levels)                        1979

 

     Jibril Martins Memorial Grammar School, Iponri, Lagos Nigeria

 

 

 

▪     General Certificate of Education (GCE) O’Levels      1978

 

 

 

▪     Primary School leaving Certificate                               1974      

 

       National primary School, Yaba, Lagos                           Nigeria

 

 

 

▪      Certified Public Accountant (California since 1991)   USA

 

 

 

My past clients include City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles International Airport, Sherriff Departments, Public Works, Los Angeles Unified School District, Port (Sea) of Los Angeles, City of Bernalillo, Bernalillo County, Large Financial Institutions, Large Entertainment conglomerates and others. I have only identified public institutions as I’m not at liberty to disclose private clients. Not one of my clients’ revenue falls below $1Billion (or about N200Billion). It takes integrity and top security clearance to be entrusted with such responsibility.

 

Your Excellency, I was also an athlete that represented Lagos State from the age of 14 to 17 (gained from grass root sports development lacking today), qualified along with others at age of 15 to represent Nigeria at World Junior cross country Championship in Poland before the Military regime pulled out. The record is there and my compatriots are alive hale and hearty. Can we say the same thing about Mr. Abdullahi and that Solomon Ogba of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN)? In addition, after a successful untainted (with any drug) career at the American collegiate circle, I maintain assistance to many athletes in excess of 100 including camping about 20 of them in Mr. Abdullahi home state of Kwara. Again, the records are there and the athletes are alive and still on the national team since 2006. Shouldn’t the country worry how an athlete remained on national team for about 8 years? I would and it will definitely bother me even though these are my kids.

 

Your Excellency, Mr. Abdullahi cronies also suggested that they found grammatical errors in my writings; therefore, they can’t comprehend what my articles were about. Unfortunately, from the same media release by Mr. Abdullahi and his cronies the issues were responded to.

 

Your Excellency , the funniest thing is that my writings invite Nigeria’s intellectuals that can read technical writings (not novices) and legal documents and I like to believe the Minister got such skills and if not, he is not qualified to head any Ministry.

 

Interestingly, Your Excellency, that Dr. Ojo-Oba (NSC Staff) in charge of N550Million grass root sports development that failed to deliver a single athlete was charged in criminal case while he was the secretary of football federation N1.3Billion scam and his travel was limited then.

 

Your Excellency, every single proposal delivered to the Minister was free of charge as my contribution to Nigeria but the Minister cronies enjoying N22Million annual paycheques are now having sleepless nights.

 

In fact, the Minister wrote in November 2012 and I quote, “You reflect my sentiment exactly… I share your views though… May I also say that you make sense most of the time…”

 

Your Excellency, the question now is, if the Minister agrees with my writings or proposal (delivered voluntarily and free without any interest in any office as I am happy where I am) and yet he is doing the opposite thing, is it not proper to assume that he lacks integrity, objectivity and interest of the athletes rather he bows to his cronies and cabal with impunity?

 

Your Excellency, I refer to excerpt of my published (copyright) materials again in respect of funding and budget of NSC and you can see why Mr. Abdullahi lacked the skills to remain as a Minister anywhere,

 

“In 201049 NSC continues the same pattern of spending in all those areas noted in 2009 at higher amounts including increase to N550Million for Grass root sports development. Also, N400Million was budgeted for soft drink Equipment, N88Million for security despite the Nigerian Police having such mandate along with questionable African Athletics Centre for N260Million and N880Million for sporting activities.

 

201150budget included similar appropriations noted earlier  in 2009 and 2010, plus cost of resurfacing National Stadium Surulere, Lagos (NSL) by National Institute for Sports (NIS) for N32M while NSC also has budget doing the same stadium for N81M. NIS does not own NSL and did not have such obligation to resurface any tartan tracks (nor does it appear it was done). NSC also had about N5Billion for sporting activities.

 

In 201251, NSC maintains similar level of highlighted expenditures. The commission received approximately N9Billion covering the commission, Football Association and Institute of Sports. The personnel cost out of this budget was about N1.6Billion and capital expenditures amounted to N1.5Billion while the remainders of the appropriations were simply overhead.

 

The budget for 201352 showed a little improvement with reduction in publicity expenditure to about N9Million however; NIS continues its unusual high budget for NSL that NSC has capital expenditures approval away from NIS budget. The National Assembly may have simply missed any of these appropriations except perhaps the notation of unnecessary spending on free facebook.53”

 

Your Excellency, Mr. Abdullahi simply lacked the skill to comprehend necessity for budget or how budget is made or how to read a budget otherwise he would have refer this outrageous spending to EFCC. Well I speak as an expert designated since 1991 before Mr. Abdullahi and his cronies ever step foot on any University campuses, if they truly did. Furthermore, I would think Mr. Abdullahi is subject to requirement to declare his assets and not maintain accounts abroad which I can determine if he maintains an account in UK within minute.

 

Conclusion

 

Your Excellency, my request is simply that NSC be probed and the Minister must step aside to have an effective resolution. Furthermore, AFN leader Solomon Ogba must be probed because multi-Billions received from NSC is simply based on fraud. I have no personal misgiving with the Minister or anyone and my interest is the athletes welfare where there are at least N2Billion in NSC budget for them but some of them cry up to me every now and then for funds, personal issues, travels, education and other concerns. If I can write for about an hour every day until these issues are resolved it saves me telephone costs, travel costs, western union fees and interruptions in dealing with my paying clients’ concerns, so be it because in the end my country benefits and the idiots go home. Simply put I can no longer be “FATHER CHRISTMAS”. Enough is enough. Thank you for listening.

 

I rest

 

Dr. Rashid A. Balogun, CPA, LLB(Hons.), LLM(London)

 

rbaloguncpa@hotma

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has confirmed the  Jose Maurinho is set to end his three-year spell in La Liga following a trophy-less season in the Spanish capital.

Jose Mourinho will leave his role as coach of Real Madrid at the end of the current season, the club confirmed Monday.

President Florentino Perez revealed at a press conference that Mourinho's time in charge at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu is coming to an end by mutual agreement once the 2012-13 season has reached a conclusion.

The announcement comes after a disappointing spell saw Madrid knocked out of the Champions League by Borussia Dortmund in the semifinals and defeated by rival Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey final, while Barcelona celebrated La Liga glory.

“The club and manager believe the time is right to bring our relationship to an end,” Perez said. “I would like to thank Jose Mourinho for all his hard work over the last three years. The team has improved over his time here and I would like to wish him all the best.

"The achievements of this season have not been sufficient for the demands of a club such as Real Madrid, or a coach like Mourinho."

Perez admitted the subject of Mourinho's future has been on the club's agenda for some time, but insisted a final decision has only been reached now and there is no agreement in place for his replacement despite suggestions Carlo Ancelotti has already agreed on a deal.

"We have come to this decision just now, although it's something that has been at the back of our mind for some time," Perez said. "We have no pre-contract signed with any manager. This is something we have to look at over the coming days."

Mourinho, meanwhile, has been heavily speculated to return to Chelsea, which is looking for a permanent replacement to interim boss Rafa Benitez.

 

QPR striker Loic Remy has been arrested on suspicion of rape according to The Metropolitan Police and the France international along with two other men is currently in custody in West London.

The 26-year-old forward is alleged to have raped a 34-year-old woman in west London on May 6.

A 23-year-old man and 22-year-old man were also arrested in connection with the incident at an address in Fulham on Wednesday morning.

The woman said she was raped by three men.

Sports is one sector where everyone can claim to be a stakeholder.  That’s because the passion we all have for the game. But even that does not give us the liberty to disrespect, ridicule and insult those who have responsibility to administer sports. While criticism if constructive and good intentioned can help sports and make administrators more productive, the bad-mouthing which is the usual fare in the sector is destructive and does no good except to pull down the administrators.

 

 This brings me to one Rashid Balogun.  I first came across his writing about a year ago.  It was a diatribe against someone I cannot recall. But the piece was so badly written; the language poor, filled with spelling and grammar errors that I thought no one would take him serious.  But the man seems unrelenting, posting one article after another and surprisingly some naïve people in the sports sector now reference him! This probably has boosted the man’s ego and feeling like the expert he is not, continued to feed us with his barely readable nonsense.

 

I believe it is time someone told him the truth. Mr. Balogun, you are a very poor writer and your arguments do not make sense, lacking logic and merit. You are like the family member who has a bad case of mouth odour and who no one has told the truth in order not to offend his sensibilities. But anyone who actually did would be doing a huge favour to Mr. Mouth Odour.  So here it is: Mr. Balogun, your articles stink to hell and do not make any sense.

 

 

But don’t take my word for it.  You can read Mr. Balogun’s nonsense in any of the online media that have mushroomed in the country.  He is so prolific at dishing it out that it is obvious that he does not have a day job. It is impossible for a person who is productively engaged to have the luxury of time to post the nonsense Mr. Balogun dishes out nearly every week.

 

 But if those articles make sense and somehow contribute to the development of sports, one can excuse the bad grammar and obvious lack of talents for writing. But they do not. Take the article he wrote sometime in April about “Dictator Ojo Oba takes over NSC (in palace coup).” Typical Balogun, the goal of that piece appears to be to set the Minister of Sports against Dr. Bolaji Ojo Oba, a Director in the Ministry. After several exhaustive readings, what I could glean from it is that Balogun picked issues with Dr Ojo Oba’s comment that secretaries of federations should prepare their handover notes ahead of their redeployment to the Ministry. According to him, this was in defiance of the minister’s directive that the secretaries are to be withdrawn! And so Ojo Oba was a ‘Dictator’ bent on taking over the Ministry from the Minister. What logic!

 

 

The simple truth is that both men were saying the same thing! What I gathered from my investigations was the minister thought it was essential to grant the Federations more autonomy, in which case they, and not the National Sports Commission, NSC, would be responsible for their secretariat. His argument was that the NSC couldn’t blame the Federations for poor performance if it is responsible for their administrative component, which is the job of the Secretaries. And this is a common argument amongst some stakeholders, how the Federations are not autonomous and are tied to the apron string of the NSC.  The minister thus felt it was necessary in line with best practices to free the NSC of this role and make the body play its natural function of making policies, supervising them and ensuring compliance. And the first step towards this was to recall the secretaries who are staff of the NSC. But before their eventual and inevitable recall, they were asked to prepare their handover notes. That was the case Ojo-Oba was making when he said the Secretaries had been told to prepare their handover notes. But Balogun turned this up side down and interpreted it to mean direct defiance of the minister.

 

 Well I am really not surprised, as the man seems incapable of understanding simple procedures. If he does, he would make sense in his writing and not write gibberish such as this:  “An attempt to bite the’ dust’ would not reflect a society norm but will certainly face the wrath of such normalcy. To be an athlete is not a norm but rather a symbol of eccentrics. Let me explain, less than 10% of our society considers themselves as athletes in their lifetime for whatever reason and majority of the population will ask for what purpose would a sprinter be running or who is pursuing him/her or why an individual is chasing after football.”

 

That is the introduction of a piece written by the semi illiterate Balogun who claims to be a Phd holder. Even though I read it 10 times, I could not understand the point he was trying to make. Reason why it grates me each time I read anything carrying his byline. The latest being on the Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi. I am sure the minister is capable of defending himself or has hired hands that can, but I think it necessary to expose Balogun for the fraud and charlatan that he is. In his latest piece, he attacked Abdullahi and Solomon Ogba, the President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, for using drug tainted American Ellenwood Garfield as coach. This is a blatant lie, which an ordinary Google check could have exposed.

 

Then Balogun seems to be obsessed with vacant position of Director General in the Commission, having sleepless nights over beer parlour rumour over whose names were submitted to fill the vacancy. Ogba is the second rumoured candidate he is attacking. I think he should wait for the Minister to officially declare the position vacant and submit prospective nominees to the President. As it is Balogun is doing a very bad job of being a paid pen.

 

 

By Tunde Akinlabi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Articles ...

  1. On NSC: Open Letter to the President of Nigeria
  2. NSC Actions are injurious to Nigeria. Minister must Go!
  3. Nigerian Obi takes over AIPS Africa
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