Sports
Tinubu’s Football Intervention Project Sees IMG Consult Stakeholders
In a clear step forward in the promise to revitalise Nigerian football, the President Bola Tinubu’s Football Intervention Project has officially kicked off.
The project began with IMG, the project’s strategic partner, meeting with top executives of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) at their Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
It was gathered that the IMG team and Afro Sport, the Nigeria strategic partner, will also during the week meet with top executives of key stakeholders.
The key stakeholders include the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL), the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), the National Sports Commission (NSC) and corporate bodies that have shown interest in the project.
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Biztellers reports that the NTA Headquarters will house the Production Hub so it’s important for the visitors to meet with management to discuss prospects and challenges.
During the week, the IMG executives and Afro Sport executives will also meet with private football club owners from Ikorodu City and Remo Stars, and government-owned football club representatives from Kwara United and Lobi Stars.
Apart from these corporate entities, the IMG and Afro Sport fact-finding mission will also meet with individuals and corporate entities who have shown interest in the President Tinubu Football Intervention Project.
Recall that President Tinubu vowed after Super Eagles lost to host Cote D’Ivoire in the final of the AFCON 2023 that his government will do everything possible to ensure that our sports, starting with football, will be among the best in the world while hosting the team at the Aso Rock Villa.
The President matched words with action soon after the above pronouncement with brainstorming sessions with experts in football in Nigeria, experts at CAF, FIFA and other stakeholders in the beautiful game of football.
The majority of the experts agreed that the best medicine for the moribund football industry is IMG.
Apart from the company’s phenomenal achievement with the Indian Cricket League which they turned into a multi-billion-dollar business and the English Premier League (EPL) which they have made the most successful football brand in the world, they pointed at the magic IMG did with the AFCON 2023 in Côte d’Ivoire.
The CAF had engaged the IMG before the championship to be the exclusive rights holder for international media rights.
At the end of the one-month football fiesta, 2023 AFCON was adjudged the most successful edition of the tournament in terms of media coverage, commercial revenues and television audiences.
The IMG made AFCON more visible than ever before. The tournament achieved 1.1 billion viewers worldwide – double the figure achieved by the previous edition in Cameroon.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) the MLS, the NWSL, the Dutch Eredivisie, the NBA, British Cycling Events, and the Saudi Pro League Saudi Arabian Football Federation are some of the events the IMG work with as partners.
Sports
Belgium Appoints Rudi Garcia As National Team Coach
The Belgian Football Federation has named Frenchman Rudi Garcia as the new head coach of the national team, following the sacking of Domenico Tedesco after a disappointing Euro 2024 campaign.
In a statement released on Friday, the federation confirmed the appointment of the Underworld former Napoli, Lyon, and Roma manager, who will be formally introduced to the press later in the day.
READ MORE: Nuri Sahin Fired As Borussia Dortmund Head Coach
Garcia’s task will be to rejuvenate the Red Devils after their early exit from the European Championship and underwhelming performances in the Nations League.
Belgium recently parted ways with Tedesco, who had been in charge since February 2023.
The Italian-German coach was brought in to rebuild the squad following the departure of the country’s celebrated “golden generation” under Roberto Martinez but failed to deliver the expected results.
The team now faces a critical relegation play-off against Ukraine in March, before beginning their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign with a trip to North Macedonia in June.
Garcia brings a wealth of experience, having coached top European clubs such as Marseille and Lyon.
He also made his mark at Lille between 2008 and 2013, leading the French side to a Ligue 1 and Coupe de France double in 2011.
However, his most recent role at Napoli in 2023 ended in disappointment after just five months.
Sports
Nuri Sahin Fired As Borussia Dortmund Head Coach
Borussia Dortmund have sacked head coach Nuri Sahin after a disappointing 2-1 loss to Bologna in Tuesday’s Champions League match, marking the club’s fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions.
The decision follows a string of poor performances that have left the club in 10th place in the Bundesliga, 20 points adrift of league leaders Bayern Munich.
Sporting CEO Lars Ricken expressed that the club had “lost faith” in Sahin, explaining that the decision was painful but necessary.
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“We have unfortunately lost faith that we will achieve our sporting goals,” Ricken said. “We value Nuri Sahin and his work very much, we hoped for a long collaboration, but after the game in Bologna, this was unavoidable.”
Sahin, who had been promoted to head coach in the summer following his role as assistant to Edin Terzic during Dortmund’s surprise Champions League final run last season, acknowledged the disappointment.
“Unfortunately, I was not able to live up to Dortmund’s sporting ambitions at this point in time. I wish this special club all the best.”
The defeat against Bologna caps a difficult season for the club under Sahin’s stewardship.
Despite their strong showing in last season’s Champions League, where they lost to Real Madrid in the final, Dortmund have struggled in the Bundesliga and were eliminated from the German Cup by Wolfsburg.
Their away form, in particular, has been disastrous, with only four wins and nine losses in 15 matches away from the Westfalenstadion.
Dortmund’s leadership, which has historically favored former players in managerial roles, now faces the task of finding a suitable replacement for Sahin.
German media reports suggest potential successors could include Erik Ten Hag, the former Manchester United boss who has been spotted attending Dortmund games recently, or Roger Schmidt, formerly of Benfica and Bayer Leverkusen.
In the interim, U19 coach Mike Tullberg has been appointed to take charge of the first team, starting with Saturday’s home match against Werder Bremen.
The sacking of Sahin is the latest chapter in a turbulent managerial history for Dortmund since the departure of Jurgen Klopp in 2015, with the club having cycled through eight different head coaches in that time. Only Lucien Favre managed to stay longer than two years.
Sahin’s tenure as manager was a significant moment for Dortmund, as he was one of the club’s own, having come through the ranks and played over 270 games for the team, including being part of the squad that won the 2011 Bundesliga title.
However, his time at the helm of the senior team has proven to be short-lived as Dortmund now seek a new direction.
Sports
Man City Sign Brazilian Teenager, Vitor Reis For £29.6M
Manchester City have completed the signing of 19-year-old defender Vitor Reis from Brazilian club Palmeiras, the Premier League champions announced on Tuesday.
The Brazilian youth international joins on a four-and-a-half-year deal for a reported fee of £29.6 million ($36.2 million).
Reis, a right-footed centre-back, expressed his enthusiasm about joining the English giants. “I’m excited to join Manchester City, one of the biggest clubs in the world,” said Reis.
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“Everyone has seen the amazing achievements in recent seasons, and I want to make my mark as we seek more trophies. Working with Pep Guardiola is something every young player wants to do, and I know he can help me to develop into the best player I can be.”
City’s director of football, Txiki Begiristain, highlighted the qualities that attracted the club to Reis.
He said, “Vitor Reis is one of the most promising young defenders in the world, and we’re delighted to have been able to bring him here. He is excellent on the ball and outstanding in the air — he has all the attributes needed to be one of the best.”
The signing of Reis is City’s second addition of the January transfer window, following the arrival of Uzbekistan international Abdukodir Khusanov.
Reports indicate that the club is also pursuing Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush before the window closes.
Manchester City, currently fifth in the Premier League table, have faced challenges this season due to a series of defensive injuries.
However, the team showcased their attacking strength with a dominant 6-0 victory over Ipswich on Sunday.