Real Zaragoza’s Nigerian striker Ikechukwu Uche, who failed to sparkle and crackle in the recent 2010 World Cup qualifier against Tunisia, is set to undergo an urgent surgery to fix a ruptured ligament in his left knee that could keep him out of action for the rest of the season.

NFF President Sani Lulu protested yesterday the manner at which journalists attribute stories to him without speaking to him. He cited the much publicised story on his declaration not to seek re-election for NFF election, saying that mischief people were at work. “I never told anybody that I will not contest for the election of the NFF.

AS Nigerians come to terms with the reality of the shameful outing of the Green Eagles, against Tunisia in their World Cup qualifier, which has put all hopes of qualifying for the World Cup in jeopardy, one of the actors, Seyi Olofinjana, said that the players deserved to be stoned by angry Nigerians.

A prophet, they say, is usually without honour in his own domain. But one man that appears to have broken this age-long rule is Chief Patrick Ekeji, who was recently honoured by his community, Nguru Development Union (NDU) National at a colourful ceremony at Nguru centre in Aboh Mbaise local government area of Imo State.

The 2009 edition of the NUJ Media Games will open October 3 and close October 8, at the National Stadium, Lagos. The event is expected to be declared open by Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola.

To popularise the game of scrabble in the country the more, the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF) has concluded plans to organise the first National Collegiate Scrabble Championship at the University of Ilorin in Kwara State.

A former defender of the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria team, Tony Udoh, has ruled out a successful cup defence by the Golden Eaglets at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, which holds between October and November in Nigeria.

FORMER chairman of Gombe State Football Association, Alhaji Ahmed Gara Gombe has said that the inability of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, to map out good programmes for the Green Eagles is the reason why they were unable to soar higher than the Tunisians last Sunday in Abuja.

In what may be the beginning of the journey to soccer stardom for the young footballers, the selected players will be joined by their counterparts, to be selected from the remaining two regions of Benin and Ibadan, for the final stage of the project.

AFTER a successful resording in the last reality show in Ghana, Telecommunication giant MTN has decided to extend it to Nigeria, reports Kate Obodo. More than 5000 footballers have converged on the Union Bank Sports Complex in Lagos to participate in the screening exercise of the football reality show expected to kick-off on September 25.