Minister inaugurates Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III Mini Stadium in Oyo – Newstrends
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Minister inaugurates Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III Mini Stadium in Oyo

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Sports Minister Sunday Dare (2nd left) with Prince Akeem Adeyemi (a.k.a. Skimeh)

Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Sunday Dare o yesterday inaugurated a Mini stadium to honour the sporting memory and community development legacies of the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi.

The stadium is sited on a former dump site at Oke Aremo area of the ancient Oyo Town.

The sport facility named “Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III Mini Stadium” was initiated by one of the children of the late monarch who is a member of the House of Representatives for the Oyo federal constituency, Prince Akeem Adeyemi (a.k.a. Skimeh).

The project was facilitated in conjunction with the Metropolitan Development Association led by retired Arch Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu with the support of Federal Ministry of Sports.

The inauguration of the football arcade was witnessed by many dignitaries and indigenes of Oyo who watched the selected Stars from Oyo and Ibadan play against each other to the admiration of all. Among the players were former soccer Stars including: Dimeji Lawal, Dele Ajiboye, Muyiwa Lawal, Ademola Ikudaisi, with Skimeh as Captain of the Oyo Alaafin Ambassador.

In his address, Dare who said he is a son to the late Alaafin because of his very close affinity with Aafin, noted that the feat was part of the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that youth of the country are encouraged to be useful to their communities, and thereby shun vices.

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He appreciated the late Alaafin and his son, Prince Akeem for initiating the idea by turning the dump site to a useful mini stadium, thus contributing to the environmental sanitation of the community.

Flanked by the Director General of the Ministry of Sports, Prof. Olawale Morounkola, the Director of Procurement, Mr. Segun Oke, Engr. Tunji Okedairo, Ag. Director/ Facility and Stadium Management Department, the Minister said: “There is a national plan under the Ministry of Youth and Sports to develop grassroots sporting facilities.

“Apart from this mini stadium commissioned today (Thursday), there are other mini stadia that have been built and commissioned across the country especially under the seven and a half years of President Muhammadu Buhari. Today is very significant because of the passion and drive behind it; because of the late Alaafin who wanted this to happen; because of his son Hon. Akeem Adeyemi who drove that vision and of course by me who also, and the plans that we have.

“You can see the story of this stadium from a rubbish heap to a stadium and I think it will benefit our youths. 61 per cent of those involved in sports are the youth of this country. Aside football, I am sure other sports will be played here. We hope that we will have about other four mini stadia in different parts of the country in the next seven months, completed and handed over to the communities like we have done today.

Speaking on the maintenance of the stadium, Dare said: “I think there is need to have a Facility Manager to take care of this stadium’s maintenance because maintenance has been a challenge for us.

“We have over 110 facilities built by the Federal Government across the country. Because of lack of maintenance over the years and over the decades, more than 85 per cent of them have gone completely bad.

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“Under President Muhammadu Buhari, we have seen the return and rehabilitation of the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja. We have seen that of the National Stadium, Surulere, which was abandoned for 19 years. When you go to the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, formerly Liberty Stadium, Oke Ado, Ibadan, it is almost 45 per cent coming back to the steam.

“So, maintenance is very important and I am glad that Hon. Akeem has already shown me the plan he has. The Metropolitan team led by Arch Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu will also work with them so that they can get Facility Manager. Once it is well managed, it is going to last for a long time,”the Minister said.

Glad that the dump site has been turned to a mini stadium, Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu said “Ode Aremo Dump Site was our number 1 challenge in 2008 when the late Alaafin celebrated his 70th birthday. The stench from the debris and squalor was not only eyesores to the public, but a great nuisance to worshippers at the Oyo Central Mosque located directly opposite the refuse dump of massive dimension and malodorous spread”.

Prince Akeem noted that the inauguration was part of activities marking the post humous 84th birthday of his father who joined his ancestors on April 22, 2022 at the Afe Babalola Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, having reigned for 52 years.

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UCL Roundup: Arsenal, Bayern triumph as Man City let 3-0 lead slip

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UCL Roundup: Arsenal, Bayern triumph as Man City let 3-0 lead slip

Arsenal and Bayern Munich celebrated victories in the UEFA Champions League, while Manchester City stunned fans by surrendering a three-goal lead to draw.

Arsenal roared back to form with a dominant 5-1 win against Sporting at Estadio Jose Alvalade. Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Magalhães, Bukayo Saka, and Leandro Trossard scored for the Gunners, overpowering Gonçalo Inácio’s lone goal for the hosts.

The victory propels Arsenal to seventh in the Champions League standings, level on 10 points with Sporting, who sit just behind.

Bayern Munich kept their top-eight hopes alive in Germany with a narrow 1-0 victory against Paris Saint-Germain. Kim Min-jae’s decisive strike just before halftime sealed the win, leaving PSG winless in the competition since September.

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At the Etihad, Manchester City threw away a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord, extending their poor run. Early goals from Erling Haaland (2) and Ilkay Gundogan seemed to put City in control. However, Feyenoord fought back through Anis Hadj Moussa, Santiago Giménez, and David Hancko to earn a stunning point.

City, now winless in six matches across all competitions, sit 15th in the Champions League table with just seven points from five games. They face a critical Premier League clash against Liverpool on Sunday.

Tuesday’s action saw Barcelona dismantle Brest 5-0, Atalanta crush Young Boys 6-1, and Inter Milan edge RB Leipzig 1-0.

Bayer Leverkusen demolished RB Salzburg 5-0, Atletico Madrid routed Sparta Prague 6-0, and AC Milan secured a hard-fought 3-2 win against Slovan.

This Champions League round delivered plenty of drama, surprises, and standout performances as teams battle for progression.

UCL Roundup: Arsenal, Bayern triumph as Man City let 3-0 lead slip

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French football star, Paul Pogba’s blackmail trial begin in Paris

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Paul Pogba

French football star, Paul Pogba’s blackmail trial begin in Paris

Six men linked to Juventus and France midfielder Paul Pogba go on trial Tuesday, accused of blackmail, attempted extortion of millions of euros and holding the player at gunpoint.

The case at the Paris criminal court has shocked the French football world because the alleged perpetrators include three childhood friends and Pogba’s own brother Mathias.

Tuesday’s trial comes on top of football woes for Pogba, whose career has struggled since France’s 2018 World Cup win when he scored against Croatia in the Moscow final.

He suffered repeated injuries that led to his 2022 departure from Manchester United, returning to Juventus where he remained in and out of treatment.

The Turin club this month cancelled his contract following his suspension until March 2025 for doping.

The six defendants in Paris are accused of attempting to squeeze 13 million euros ($13.5 million) out of Pogba.

His brother, Mathias was the one to go public in the case, publishing a video on social media in August 2022 promising revelations about his younger brother that were “likely to be explosive”.

In a subsequent clip, Mathias accused Paul Pogba of casting an evil spell on his France teammate, Kylian Mbappe.

Paul Pogba’s lawyers and his agent Rafaela Pimenta said in a statement later the videos “came on top of threats and attempts at extortion”.

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He had already filed criminal complaints in Italy and France in July that year.

Pogba told French investigators he had in March 2022 been “tricked by childhood friends” from the gritty Paris suburb where he and Mathias grew up.

He accused them of snatching him before he was held at gunpoint by two hooded men with assault rifles, demanding 13 million euros for “services rendered” and blaming him for not helping them financially.

 

Pogba said at the time that he had paid them only 100,000 euros.

 

The footballer said he had also been pressured at the France national team’s training centre in Clairefontaine, at one of his homes in Manchester, and at Juventus’ training ground.

 

Pogba added that he had also paid a bill of more than 57,000 euros that the same friends had racked up at the Adidas store on Paris’ glitzy Champs-Elysees avenue.

“It’s been really difficult for me off the pitch, what’s happened, it’s been especially hard mentally,” Pogba told broadcaster Al-Jazeera at the end of the last season.

 

“Money changes people, it’s the truth, it can destroy a family, start a war”.

Paul Pogba’s lawyer Pierre-Jean Douvier declined to comment ahead of the case when contacted by AFP.

His friends have all denied the allegations.

They had “a friendly relationship, with chats, joking around, and alongside that, yes, maybe Paul Pogba gave them a helping hand,” said Karim Morand-Lahouazi, a lawyer for one of the accused.

 

French football star, Paul Pogba’s blackmail trial begin in Paris

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Ronaldo’s brace propels Al Nassr toward AFC champions league quarters

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Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo’s brace propels Al Nassr toward AFC champions league quarters

Cristiano Ronaldo delivered a stellar performance for Al Nassr, scoring twice in their 3-1 victory over Al Gharafa in Qatar.

The win, secured at Al Bayt Stadium on Monday, leaves the Saudi champions needing only three points from their final three group matches to reach the AFC Champions League quarterfinals.

The 39-year-old faced initial frustration after several missed chances in the first half. However, Ronaldo broke the deadlock just 50 seconds into the second half, heading home Sultan Al Ghannam’s pinpoint cross from close range.

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Angelo Gabriel, a summer signing from Chelsea, doubled Al Nassr’s lead in the 58th minute. Moments later, the Brazilian setup Ronaldo for his second goal of the night, bringing his tally to four in this season’s competition. The Portuguese star was substituted in the 74th minute after his decisive contributions.

Al Gharafa pulled one back through Joselu, Ronaldo’s former Real Madrid teammate. However, their hopes of a comeback were dashed when Seydou Sano received a second yellow card and was sent off in the 84th minute.

The victory ensures Al Nassr remains unbeaten in five matches in the Western zone of the draw. They now sit second in the 12-team standings, inching closer to a coveted spot in the tournament’s last eight.

Ronaldo’s performance reaffirms his status as a key player, driving Al Nassr’s aspirations in the rebranded AFC Champions League.

 

Ronaldo’s brace propels Al Nassr toward AFC champions league quarters

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